The Selection by Keira Cass [Book Review]

The Selection 

by Keira Cass 

338 pages 

Release Date: April 24, 2012

Format: Ebook 

Prepare to be swept into a world of breathless fairy-tale romance, swoonworthy characters, glittering gowns, and fierce intrigue perfect for readers who loved Divergent, Delirium, or The Wrath & the Dawn.

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape a rigid caste system, live in a palace, and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon. But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her, and competing for a crown she doesn’t want.

Then America meets Prince Maxon—and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

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This is a series is one that has been on my TBR pile seriously for six years. I saw it everywhere in the book world and it had been suggested to me countless times. 

For whatever reason, i avoided reading it and getting invested in the series. At least for me, when there is too much hype I get turned off. However, that being said... I wish I'd read this so much sooner! 

The Selection begins with America Singer (she sings. No, really...) and as ridiculous as her name is, I did come to find myself rooting for America and overlooking these things rather quickly. 

While this book has the typical love triangle and parts of it are a tad bit unbelievable (like Aspen ending up at the castle as well AND you would think Royalty would have better security...) I did enjoy it and find it a very enveloping read.

I love when a book hooks me, and ultimately the "hook" factor is what really sets books apart for me. I was hooked while reading The Selection and proceeded to read the next two in the series within three days.

I loved the "Bachelor-esque" aspect of this book and really enjoyed the relationships created between the contestants. I felt Cass did a wonderful job at highlighting both sides of these relationships, on the one hand they are all each other has -- but they're also competing.

I felt at times like Maxon was a bit too forgiving to America, but this was the only occassion I had issues suspending belief.

I listened to these via Audiobook thanks to my beloved Scribd subscription (Scribd is a total game changer).

While these are not life altering books, I do find them to be very cute and engrossing. Definitely worth a read!

Have you read The Selection series? What did you think? Comment below and let me know! :) 

How I Plan My Writing and Reading Life in a Bullet Journal...

Bullet Journal's have been everywhere recently and I really wish I could tell you that they're overhyped and that using a traditional planner is just as helpful for your daily life. I am always wary of things that everyone swears by. I'm always afraid I'll get into something that redirects me from what is actually helpful for me. But....

I LOVE my bullet journal. I fully believe it made me a better person and redirected me to the things in my life that actually matter and that I actually care about. The beauty of bullet journaling is that it can be whatever you want and whatever you need AND you can change it at the drop of a hat. 

I began a new journal for 2019 pictured below (isn't it gorgeous?!). So, I thought with the new year and this brand new set -up it would be the perfect time to show you how the Bullet Journal Method works for me! Granted, I don't Bullet Journal traditionally like Ryder Carrol's book. I do create my own planner with to do lists, and keep track of goals to better my life. 

I've found, by writing down my goals I am MUCH more likely to hit them. 

I begin each notebook with future logs, trackers, and large scale goals. Below is my initial 2019 book tracking list. After each book I complete I will keep track of the title, author, date completed, along with a general star rating. This page will hold 75 books. 

I do like to make my Bullet Journal relatively pretty - the below spread is my pretty and fun Book Log for 2019. The one below keeps track of the date completed/my feelings on the book. This one is just to satisfy me visually. PLUS this list holds over 100 titles, which I'm hoping I may be able to hit this year. 

Whenever a title is completed I will color in the book and keep track of the title. I am SO excited to fill this in! :D 

Once a book is completed or a book is purchased, I place the plan for review below by month to sort out my posting plan. 

I am attempting to be more serious with my writing goals this year and am determined to finish my first draft and edit/complete all the things. 

The below log is a general goal for each month, whether it be drafting, editing, querying, etc... 

I tend to work as a I go with the journal. I will start by tracking January, setting those goals and go based on what is completed. I know some people will plan out an entire year but I KNOW things will change and will not put that down in ink just yet. 

This list below is a year in pixels so I can keep track of my productivity throughout the entire year for writing. Some people do habit trackers with multiple things tracked in one graph BUT that's way too much for me to handle. This tracker is just for writing and things related to writing so I can (hopefully) stay accountable. 

As I said earlier, I do attempt to make my journal a tad pretty and artistic. My art skills are horribly limited, but I do like to do nice literary cover pages! 

I track reading and writing goals in my monthly as well as my weekly planner as well, however it is much more limited. The monthly tends to be my big goals for the month and my plan for getting things done. 

So... do any of you bullet journal or want to know more about it? I have truly found so much joy from making my own pages and being able to make it everything I need at the time. If there's something pressing that I need to track, I can add a special tracker and personalize it to fit everything I need. 

What do you think? :) 

Ten Years Later... The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

Anyone who has followed my blog for some time has more than likely heard my gush about The Truth About Forever on more than one occasion. I read this book at fifteen. I was a sophomore in high school and life felt so... hard.

I'd previously read Just Listen on a whim and at this time my story searching went as far as the bookstore shelves. I read TTAF next and it was the first time I'd ever stayed up all night reading a book. I still remember the awe I felt, closing the pages at five in the morning, school looming in two hours... I was so caught up in the story that I felt as if I was still in a daze.

Now its been twelve years later and life gets so out of control. From high school, to college, and then to working full time things get difficult. Life becomes harder and harder to juggle until you lose yourself and have to remember the things you enjoy.

Reading The Truth About Forever was my way of remembering me, and I hope each of you has a favorite book that draws you back every time.

The Truth About Forever 

By: Sarah Dessen 

Macy’s summer stretches before her, carefully planned and outlined. She will spend her days sitting at the library information desk. She will spend her evenings studying for the SATs. Spare time will be used to help her obsessive mother prepare for the big opening of the townhouse section of her luxury development. But Macy’s plans don’t anticipate a surprising and chaotic job with Wish Catering, a motley crew of new friends, or … Wes. Tattooed, artistic, anything-but-expected Wes. He doesn’t fit Macy’s life at all–so why does she feel so comfortable with him? So … happy? What is it about him that makes her let down her guard and finally talk about how much she misses her father, who died before her eyes the year before? Sarah Dessen delivers a page-turning novel that carries readers on a roller coaster of denial, grief, comfort, and love as we watch a broken but resilient girl pick up the pieces of her life and fit them back together.

On my third re-read of The Truth About Forever, I stayed up until 3am, with work looming the following morning WHEN I ALREADY KNEW WHAT HAPPENED. To me there is no higher praise. 

Macy Queen is completely ordinary, but longing for the ellusive idea of perfection and the badge of approval. 

What I love most about TTAF is the amount of things happening. We have Macy's library day job, the chaos of Wish, the memories of her father, her mother's townhouse development, and each storyline is tied together perfectly. 

Wish catering is my favorite reminder that perfection isn't all it's chalked up to be. I long to work for Wish, to serve meat balls to over eager guests and ride in the Bert-mobile. I love the backdrop of catering to contrast Macy's otherwise search for perfection. While striving to be perfect amongst her mother, her library job, and her complicated relationship with Jason, Wish catering becomes our chaos. 

The slow build between Wes and Macy is one of the sweetest build ups I've ever experienced. Each time I've become swept into it their game of Truth and the development of their story. The relationship they build based on trust, truth and a true understanding of the other person for who they really are. 

The Truth About Forever is every bit as perfect as it was twelve years ago. Upon this re-read I was reminded of my fifteen year old heart, and reintroduced to friends who have always stayed with me, if only on the page. 

Revisit! Nine years later... Graceling by Kristin Cashore [Book Review]

I've been a reader for a very long time, and as such, I often find myself remembering titles that I read years prior. What often happens with me is I remember liking a book but beyond that I remember NOTHING else.

I've recently come across a new favorite app (guys, apps weren't even really a thing when I first started this Blog -- how times have changed) called SCRIBD which has a wonderful selection of audio books.

Graceling was amongst the audiobook selection so I decided to feast on the memories of years prior and OH was it a wonderful feast.

Here is my review of Graceling, (nearly) ten years later, nine years older, nine years wiser.

Graceling 

Kristin Cashore

Length- 512 pages

Publisher: HMH for Young Readers

Publication Date: September 07, 2009

Graceling tells the story of the vulnerable-yet-strong Katsa, who is smart and beautiful and lives in the Seven Kingdoms where selected people are born with a Grace, a special talent that can be anything at all. Katsa’s Grace is killing. As the king’s niece, she is forced to use her extreme skills as his brutal enforcer. Until the day she meets Prince Po, who is Graced with combat skills, and Katsa’s life begins to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

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After the first time I read Graceling I remember thinking to myself that this book, more than any I had read prior, was truly epic fantasy... at least in the young adult genre.

Graceling is fantasy done right -- the world feels large and all encompassing. The story is gripping and while in the world I found myself truly in her world and fully entranced by the story.

Some fantasies lead me to eye rolling when the plot becomes too convenient, but with Graceling this was not the case.

We begin the story with Katsa showing her colors, and one thing I truly loved about Katsa is the fact her imperfections are not hidden. She's a killer. She's killed many, many people and this has led her character to be different than the typical YA heroine.

The idea of Graces was a nice addition to the plot line and it made sense to the world, and I especially loved that the author did not use a blanket opinion of Graces the same for every land or culture. While this world is incredibly large, we also find out that different members of it see the Graced differently.

The relationship between Katsa and Po was slow building making it feel more genuine.

If I were to have a complaint -- it would be only that the end in some ways did feel rushed. For such a long story the end and completion seemed to come quickly and end swiftly. There was very little finality with the end which did leave me ever so slightly dissatisfied.

All in all, nine years later I agree with my previous rating of 5/5.

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy [Book Review]

Title: Dumplin' 

Author: Julie Murphy

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Source: From publisher for honest review. 

Release Date: September 15, 2015

From the author of Side Effects May Vary comes what is guaranteed to be one of your favorite novels of the year—about an unforgettable heroine called Willowdean Dickson who decides to take on her small town’s beauty pageant.

Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed "Dumplin'" by her former beauty queen mom) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American-beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked...until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back.

Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Clover City beauty pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any twiggy girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all.

With starry Texas nights, red candy suckers, Dolly Parton songs, and a wildly unforgettable heroine—Dumplin' is guaranteed to steal your heart.

I read this book in about five hours. While in a car today to and from Dollywood today I was obsessed with Willowdean's story... and then I planted myself on my couch and continued reading until it was complete. Little did I know this morning that this book was the perfect book to ready while surrounded by Dolly everything today!

I was so overcome with Willowdean and her story.  I needed to know more... and I still can't pin point exactly what it was. I laughed with her, I teared up at her struggles and I found myself rejoicing whenever hope was found.

We begin the story with our heroine, Willowdean Dickson who is a self proclaimed "fat-girl" and a bit confused with some aspects of her life. She is normal. Average. She works at a fast food restaurant and has a best friend who seems to have everything, but loves her just the same. Her story is so relatable that her story and my own story overlapped in many ways which led to this strange kinsman-ship that happened through the page. She was very likeable... if a bit stubborn and hard on herself.

To get this out of the way, I loved Bo. Bo was a great character and to me, he felt real. No, he wasn't perfect... but he tried.

There was a bit of a love triangle in this one, but given the subject matter I think it made sense to Willow's character.

I loved the focus on Dolly Parton in this novel. As a Southern girl, Dolly is an icon.. particularly in my part of the country. I was raised a hop and a skip away from Dolly's home town where streets are named after her and she isn't a celebrity... she's a legend. It was nice to see the love of Dolly in this novel portrayed as something different, and as something that lifts them up.

While reading, Willow's voice is so real that her choices make sense, and her struggles feel like the issues your own best friend would have and tell you about on any given night during high school.

Her voice is so real because her emotions are ones we all have felt. We have all felt as if we weren't good enough, and we have all struggles with aspects of our body. Society has formed us to believe that a certain picture and idea of beauty is what we should listen to... but this book turns that around and screams for recognition of a different kind of beauty; the beauty found within yourself.

Overall: Please read Dumplin'. It is so, so great and I will be screaming its praises for years to come. If you have ever felt as if you don't fit in, or struggled with any aspect of yourself... this book is for you.

Storm Siren by Mary Weber [Book Review]

Title: Storm Siren
Author: Mary Weber
Series: Storm Siren #1
Released: August 19, 2014
Source: Received from Publisher for honest review.

“I raise my chin as the buyers stare. Yes. Look. You don’t want me. Because, eventually, accidentally, I will destroy you.”
In a world at war, a slave girl’s lethal curse could become one kingdom’s weapon of salvation. If the curse—and the girl—can be controlled.
As a slave in the war-weary kingdom of Faelen, seventeen-year-old Nym isn’t merely devoid of rights, her Elemental kind are only born male and always killed at birth — meaning, she shouldn’t even exist.
Standing on the auction block beneath smoke-drenched mountains, Nym faces her fifteenth sell. But when her hood is removed and her storm-summoning killing curse revealed, Nym is snatched up by a court advisor and given a choice: be trained as the weapon Faelen needs to win the war, or be killed.
Choosing the former, Nym is unleashed into a world of politics, bizarre parties, and rumors of an evil more sinister than she’s being prepared to fight . . . not to mention the handsome trainer whose dark secrets lie behind a mysterious ability to calm every lightning strike she summons.
But what if she doesn’t want to be the weapon they’ve all been waiting for?
Set in a beautifully eclectic world of suspicion, super abilities, and monsters, Storm Siren is a story of power. And whoever controls that power will win.

I thought this book sounded very interesting based on the synopsis, but when beginning it I did not realize I would become so indebted to Nym's world and her story! I read it relatively quickly, finding myself flipping through pages wanting to see what happened next and I think the beginning really makes that an emotion which many will feel.

From the very first page you are transported to this other world and the story is fascinating.

If I were to compare this book to other fantasies that are out there, I would say it is as if Poison Study, and Graceling had a baby and you added water.  There is a lot of story with this one, and I felt as if there was always more going on.

Nym has been suffering for years with the guilt that she feels as an elemental without control. She has lost control with devastating repercussions and the novel begins with her feeling separated and very much alone. The path that she takes and the progress she makes with herself was what really had me indebted to this novel.  I enjoyed Nym, and I wanted to know about HER story. Elementals in her world are killed at birth, so her very existence puts her in danger. These aspects of the novel really helped push it forward and lead to a well rounded story where the plot made sense.

The villain-ess felt a bit stoic and was not well rounded. I like villains who have depth, and this one just didn't really have it. I'm hoping that in the next installment the villain's are fleshed out a bit more and more about each side can be included.

Also, the romance threw me off quite a bit as I felt like it was a bit forced for the sake of including a romance. I didn't think it was completely out of left field, but I do wish there had been more build up. It did not occur particularly early in the novel so it was not an insta-love situation, but it did in ways appear when I did not expect it.

THAT ENDING THOUGH.

The ending will leave you in distress for a need to know more. I can't really express too much, but any doubts I had about finishing the series went away with that final page. I need to read the next one, and I need to know what happens.

Ultimately, if you're a fan of fantasy and you're looking for a different concept this book should be checked out. I am interested to see where the next installments take Nym!

Map to the Stars by Jen Malone [Book Review]

Title: Map to the Stars
Author: Jen Malone
Format:Ebook
Source: From Publisher for honest review
Publisher: Harper Impulse
Release Date: July 14, 2015
Link: Buy it here. ($1.99!)

Can one down-to-earth girl plus a very famous boy and a whole lot of paparazzi ever add up to a perfect Hollywood ending?Seventeen-year-old Annie Shelton isn't sure why her mom thinks moving to Hollywood will allow them to escape the drama of their small-time life in Georgia, but she's along for the ride. When Annie's mom snags a gig as makeup artist to a teen movie idol and finagles a spot for Annie to accompany her on his European promotional tour, Annie's pretty sure she'll be fangirling over architectural sights rather than teen heartthrob Graham Cabot.
But then of course she actually meets him. As Graham and Annie fall for each other in the most romantic cities in the world, Annie realizes that this turn of events may not be quite as glamorous as she thought. Instead of red carpets and celebrity couple names, they are navigating a minefield of keeping secrets from Graham's fans, overprotective assistant, stage "momager," and beefy bodyguard. And when the paparazzi make an appearance, Annie has to decide whether their love is worth the harsh glare of the flashbulb.

This was a very cute, short, light and fun read. Annie Shelton has just moved from Georgia to L.A. and is experiencing the culture shock to end all culture shocks. Suddenly she has been taken from her comfortable home life to this new world where celebrities exist... and they normally get what they want.

Annie has never been the type to get caught up in Pop Culture drama, but she finds herself right in the center and unsure what to do next. Ultimately, this book was cute - I'm not really sure what else needs to be said about it and no other word really sums up the book's premise quite like that one.

It is not overly simple, but there are also no real complex events that occur or plot points which take you by surprise... it's just a very cute book about a girl living out most girl's fantasies.

The fantasy was my favorite part and Graham was at times adorable, and at times a snob that I just wanted to punch in the face. He tended to flip flop, leaning usually towards the better of the two options and ultimately I liked him as a main character and did care about their ending.

There was a wee bit of "insta-love" which occurred, mainly due to the whole celebrity thing. The idea that Graham's attractiveness is off the chart is mentioned multiple times, and ultimately his looks paired with his dorky/adorable personality win Annie over very quickly. Perhaps too quickly.

There was a back story which was revealed slowly during the novel involving why Annie and her mother left Georgia for L.A. and it was an interesting story that wasn't what I expected.

Wynn, the best friend, is another good side character which adds some of the crazy celeb fan that one would expect when reading this type of novel.

The ending was cute, and I thought all the plot points were summed up nicely and topped with a fine little bow. I enjoyed this novel because it was rather simplistic, and it did read like a fantasy turned book reality which is great for anyone who dreamed of falling in love with their favorite celebrity!

Overall: This book is cute. It is perfect for a quick summer read or a day at the beach. It is definitely worth the $1.99 price tag. Be sure to check it out!

Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway [Book Review]

Title: Robin & Oliver
Author: Robin Benway
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Received from Publisher for honest review. 
Release Date: June 23, 2015

Emmy’s best friend, Oliver, reappears after being kidnapped by his father ten years ago. Emmy hopes to pick up their relationship right where it left off. Are they destined to be together? Or has fate irreparably driven them apart?
Emmy just wants to be in charge of her own life.
She wants to stay out late, surf her favorite beach—go anywhere without her parents’ relentless worrying. But Emmy’s parents can’t seem to let her grow up—not since the day Oliver disappeared.
Oliver needs a moment to figure out his heart.
He’d thought, all these years, that his dad was the good guy. He never knew that it was his father who kidnapped him and kept him on the run. Discovering it, and finding himself returned to his old hometown, all at once, has his heart racing and his thoughts swirling.
Emmy and Oliver were going to be best friends forever, or maybe even more, before their futures were ripped apart. In Emmy’s soul, despite the space and time between them, their connection has never been severed. But is their story still written in the stars? Or are their hearts like the pieces of two different puzzles—impossible to fit together?
Readers who love Sarah Dessen will tear through these pages with hearts in throats as Emmy and Oliver struggle to face the messy, confusing consequences of Oliver’s father’s crime. Full of romance, coming-of-age emotion, and heartache, these two equally compelling characters create an unforgettable story. 

This was one book that I was very excited for. I have read Robin Benway before and I know that she has talent, but this was incredible. I am so upset that I didn't think of this plot. It is THAT good.

Oliver was taken from his home at a young age and kidnapped by his father. His mother and the people of the town have spent the past decade searching for him and then one day he is there. Emmy has lived her life as the neighbor of the boy who disappeared, and as a result her family had to see first hand the struggle his mother went through.

Emmy spends her time as a victim to an event which she had no control of, because of Oliver's disappearance her freedom was restricted... which though understandable, leads to secrets she is forced to keep from her family.

These two coming together creates a beautiful, beautiful story full of recovery for those who left and those who stayed.

Oliver was a fantastic character, and he had a lot of depth that kept me glued to his story. He is pulled between the father who raised him and the mother he barely knows. His story is heartbreaking because as a young boy his emotions are so torn and his confusion is evident.

Emmy was wonderful, resilient, and strong. She grew up having to see her best friend disappear. His memory and the person he has become is a constant reminder to her and they had moments in this book which made me feel the tears and all of the emotions they shared.

I loved the way it ended, and I would have loved to spend more time with Emmy & Oliver. The friend's depicted in this novel were a nice addition and I loved the relationship that they all shared together as a unit coming back together.

Overall: In short, this book is a great novel about friendship and its resilience, as well as love and learning to trust again. If you're a contemporary fan, don't miss this one.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine! 

Release Date: August 25, 2015 

To everyone who knows him, West Ashby has always been that guy: the cocky, popular, way-too-handsome-for-his-own-good football god who led Lawton High to the state championships. But while West may be Big Man on Campus on the outside, on the inside he’s battling the grief that comes with watching his father slowly die of cancer.
Two years ago, Maggie Carleton’s life fell apart when her father murdered her mother. And after she told the police what happened, she stopped speaking and hasn’t spoken since. Even the move to Lawton, Alabama, couldn’t draw Maggie back out. So she stayed quiet, keeping her sorrow and her fractured heart hidden away.
As West’s pain becomes too much to handle, he knows he needs to talk to someone about his father—so in the dark shadows of a post-game party, he opens up to the one girl who he knows won’t tell anyone else.
West expected that talking about his dad would bring some relief, or at least a flood of emotions he couldn’t control. But he never expected the quiet new girl to reply, to reveal a pain even deeper than his own—or for them to form a connection so strong that he couldn’t ever let her go…

I just recently began to watch Friday Night Lights and I want MORE. I saw this book and thought it looked incredible. It has some of my favorite elements, as a southerner I love books that take place in the south and football is a serious thing here so this one definitely caught my eye. 

What are you guys waiting on this week?  

The Sin Eater's Daughter by Melinda Salisbury [Review]

Title: The Sin Eater's Daughter (#1)
Author: Melinda Salisbury
Publisher: Scholastic
Source: Edelweiss for Review
ISBN: 1407147633

I am the perfect weapon.I kill with a single touch.
Twylla is blessed. The Gods have chosen her to marry a prince, and rule the kingdom. But the favour of the Gods has it's price. A deadly poison infuses her skin. Those who anger the queen must die under Twylla's fatal touch.
Only Lief, an outspoken new guard, can see past Twylla's chilling role to the girls she truly is.
Yet in a court as dangerous and the queen's, some truths should not be told...

Review: 

I LOVED this one, but I didn't always. For this review I just have to get that out there on the table. When I began this book I thought it was interesting... but it is a bit on the weird side. There are many ideas/concepts that stick out until you're immersed in the world and initially it may seem like a lot to take in.

If you feel this, please just KEEP READING. The world building is so fantastic that it will all make sense soon.

Now that those warnings are out there, I can fully start to rave!

The world building was incredible, and once I became immersed and I accepted the things that threw me off, I couldn't get enough.

Twylla, our heroine, was born a Sin Eater's Daughter. I have heard of Sin Eater's before, but the way it was illustrated in this book was interesting. The Sin Eater literally eats food to represent the sins of the individual, the more disturbing the sin, the more unsatisfying the food. The Sin Eater's position is passed down through families, so Twylla should be next in line to serve as the Sin Eater... but things happened which makes that not the place.

This is where the world building becomes intense and wonderful. There are so many varying aspects and storylines that go into the story/world building that it can feel a bit overwhelming. Sin Eater's are outcasts, and Twylla has lived off and separated from society, just  to join the court and be separated again due to the God's favor and her ability to kill.

I enjoyed the storyline surrounding Twylla's "gift." I loved that the story was slowly revealed so there were always questions that needed answering. This really moved the story forward and I was often surprised by what I found.

I may be in the minority with this one, but I adored the story of Twylla and Lief. I loved their relationship and I found myself unable to stop reading because I needed to know what would happen. Even with all that took place... I think I still am rooting for them, though I do feel bad for Merek. This is one love triangle that I didn't mind. I loved to love them. All of them. I need them back in my life.

The Queen is a character that really had no redemptive qualities, but more on that when you read the book. :)

Overall: If you love fantasy, love stories, and icky governments that need fixing -- this one is for you! Numerous times I was on the edge of my chair with no idea how it would all work out in the end. Not very often to I care as much about a group of characters as I did about Twylla, Lief, and Merek.  I can't wait to continue the series!

Seriously though, if you guys want to talk about my abundance of feelings for this title, comment below or send me a tweet -- I need to talk about that ending!

Waiting On Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine! 

This week I am focusing on a historical fiction by one of my favorite historical writers! 

Deeanne Gist has written many historical fictions with definite crossover appeal... this one looks so good! 

Look for it May 5th!

From the bestselling author of It Happened at the Fair and Fair Play comes a compelling historical novel about a progressive “New Woman”—the girl behind Tiffany’s chapel—and the love that threatens it all.
As preparations for the 1893 World’s Fair set Chicago and the nation on fire, Louis Tiffany—heir to the exclusive Fifth Avenue jewelry empire—seizes the opportunity to unveil his state-of-the-art, stained glass, mosaic chapel, the likes of which the world has never seen.
But when Louis’s dream is threatened by a glassworkers’ strike months before the Fair opens, he turns to an unforeseen source for help: the female students at the New York Art Institute. Eager for adventure, the young women pick up their skirts, move to boarding houses, take up steel cutters, and assume new identities as the “Tiffany Girls.”
Tiffany Girls is the heartwarming story of the impetuous Flossie Jayne, a beautiful, budding artist who is handpicked by Louis to help complete the Tiffany chapel. Though excited to live in a boarding house when most women stayed home, she quickly finds the world is less welcoming than anticipated. From a Casanova male, to an unconventional married couple, and a condescending singing master, she takes on a colorful cast of characters to transform the boarding house into a home while racing to complete the Tiffany chapel and make a name for herself in the art world.
As challenges mount, her ambitions become threatened from an unexpected quarter: her own heart. Who will claim victory? Her dreams or the captivating boarder next door?

 What are you guys waiting for this week?

We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach

Title: We All Looked Up
Author: Tommy Wallach
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1481418777

Four high school seniors put their hopes, hearts, and humanity on the line as an asteroid hurtles toward Earth in this contemporary novel.
They always say that high school is the best time of your life.
Peter, the star basketball player at his school, is worried “they” might actually be right. Meanwhile Eliza can’t wait to escape Seattle—and her reputation—and perfect-on-paper Anita wonders if admission to Princeton is worth the price of abandoning her real dreams. Andy, for his part, doesn’t understand all the fuss about college and career—the future can wait.
Or can it? Because it turns out the future is hurtling through space with the potential to wipe out life on Earth. As these four seniors—along with the rest of the planet—wait to see what damage an asteroid will cause, they must abandon all thoughts of the future and decide how they’re going to spend what remains of the present.

The hardest reviews to write are the ones where you feel in the middle, and for WE ALL LOOKED UP, that's exactly how I feel. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't love it either. The book started off strong and then lost it somewhere towards the middle for me.

I wasn't really indebted into the characters very much, and at some point I realized I was reading to find out what happened with the asteroid. I wanted to know the fate of the planet... not really the fate of the characters.

For me, I felt that the characters were kind of too crazy. I couldn't relate to them personally because they seemed so much the opposite of myself that I couldn't put myself in their shoes, and the decisions they made often irritated me more than anything.

I really wanted to love this book because I've heard so many good things, but it ultimately fell kind of flat for me.

I will say that the author's writing was good and I can definitely see where he was going with the decisions that he made, and the character development he portrayed - it was just lost on me personally.

I did enjoy the world building as it represented a society which crumbled in the face of disaster, which is something I feel would actually happen in the face of this kind of disaster.

Ultimately, if you're interested in books where the characters experience extreme transformations in the face of the apocalypse, this book is for you.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine!

This weeks Waiting on Wednesday features a book I somehow just found out about! Feast your eyes on this...

When Gia Montgomery's boyfriend, Bradley, dumps her in the parking lot of her high school prom, she has to think fast. After all, she'd been telling her friends about him for months now. This was supposed to be the night she proved he existed. So when she sees a cute guy waiting to pick up his sister, she enlists his help. The task is simple: be her fill-in boyfriend— two hours, zero commitment, a few white lies. After that, she can win back the real Bradley.
The problem is that days after prom, it's not the real Bradley she's thinking about, but the stand-in. The one whose name she doesn't even know. But tracking him down doesn't mean they're done faking a relationship. Gia owes him a favor and his sister intends to see that he collects: his ex-girlfriend's graduation party — three hours, zero commitment, a few white lies.
Just when Gia begins to wonder if she could turn her fake boyfriend into a real one, Bradley comes waltzing back into her life, exposing her lie, and threatening to destroy her friendships and her new-found relationship.

I LOVED On the Fence so I need this book yesterday.

Look for it on May 5th!

What are you guys waiting on this week?  

Rebound by Noelle August [Book Review]

Title: Rebound
Author: Noelle August
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
ISBN: 0062331094 
Source: From Publisher for honest review. 

Hooking up is only the beginning of the fun in this sexy and irresistible second installment of the thrilling New Adult series, Boomerang.Adam Blackwood has it all. At twenty-two, he’s fabulously wealthy, Ryan Gosling-hot and at the top of the heap in the business world. His life is perfect, until a scandal from his past resurfaces and knocks the tech wunderkind down, throwing his company, Boomerang, a hook-up site for millennials, into chaos.
Three years ago, Adam married his high school love—and then lost her in a tragic accident. Now, the heartbreak and guilt he’s tried to bury with work and women begins to take over his life.
Alison Quick, the twenty-one-year-old daughter of a business tycoon—and the very ex-girlfriend of Boomerang’s former intern, Ethan—has a problem of her own. She’s got one chance to prove to her father that she deserves a place in his empire by grabbing control of Boomerang and taking Adam down.
But as Alison moves in on him, armed with a cadre of lawyers and accountants, she discovers there’s much more to Adam and Boomerang than meets the eye. Will earning her father’s approval come at the price of losing her first real love? It appears so, unless Adam can forgive her for wrecking his life and trying to steal his livelihood. But Alison hopes that old adage is right. Maybe love can conquer all.

I loved the first installment to Noelle August's New Adult series, Boomerang, and this one was no disappointment! You can find my review for the first one here.

This installment focuses on the super attractive owner of Boomerang himself, Adam Blackwood and Ethan's mysterious ex-girlfriend, Allison Quick. Both of these individuals we were able to see slightly in the first installment which made their reintroduction that much more anticipated. I felt like I knew them both before the story even began which really made the story that much more entertaining. This sequel could definitely be read as a stand alone novel so unfamiliarity should not keep you from it! Reading Boomerang first is not a necessity.

When I saw that Adam was going to be the boy in this sequel I was very, very excited. I loved him in the first one and a story with him in the forefront was definitely something I was all in for. Allison; however, I was less sure about. In the first book we are given such a different light of her and I wasn't sure how the two views would reconcile, but luckily by the end I loved Allison, maybe even more than our first heroine, Mia.

Adam and Allison's relationship is a bit different than Mia and Ethan's. Adam and Allison both come from pasts which leave them altered emotionally. This makes their story very emotional, and there were times when I felt the pain they were feeling due to their own backgrounds.

This installment also is driven by missteps and miscommunication between characters which make sometimes hilarious situations. Both main characters are playing their own game, and how those two games coexist is often times entertaining and I was genuinely interested from page one until the end.

I really enjoyed the ending as it is both surprising and expected - which will make sense once the novel has been read. There is a moment of power from female characters that made me fist pump the air and it made other aspects I was less sure of come together and make sense.

Allison Quick is a great heroine because she is honest, she doesn't hide her past or make excuses for actions and the honesty remains from the beginning until the end of the novel.

Adam Blackwood is emotionally complex in ways I did not expect, and this really is showcased in this installment, making him a fantastic male protagonist who gives Allison a run for her money.

All in all, I highly recommend this second installment in the Boomerang trilogy! New Adult is quickly becoming a favorite genre of mine and this series really showcases some of the best in that category.

Overall: This book is a great sequel to Boomerang! I loved this second installment as much as the first and am eagerly awaiting Bounce! If you love light feel good reads, this one should be on your list. Don't miss it this Spring!

Girl Before a Mirror by Liza Palmer [Review + Giveaway]

Title: Girl Before a Mirror
Author: Liza Palmer
Release Date: January 27, 2015
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Source: From publisher for honest review.

The author of Conversations with a Fat Girl—optioned for HBO—returns with the hilarious and heartfelt story of a woman who must learn how to be the heroine of her own life-a journey that will teach her priceless lessons about love, friendship, family, work, and her own heart
An account executive in a Mad Men world, Anna Wyatt is at a crossroads. Recently divorced, she’s done a lot of emotional housecleaning, including a self-imposed dating sabbatical. But now that she’s turned forty, she’s struggling to figure out what her life needs. Brainstorming to win over an important new client, she discovers a self-help book—Be the Heroine, Find Your Hero—that offers her unexpected insights and leads her to a most unlikely place: a romance writers’ conference. If she can sign the Romance Cover Model of the Year Pageant winner for her campaign—and meet the author who has inspired her to take control of her life—she’ll win the account. 
For Anna, taking control means taking chances, including getting to know Sasha, her pretty young colleague on the project, and indulging in a steamy elevator ride with Lincoln Mallory, a dashing financial consultant she meets in the hotel. When the conference ends, Anna and Lincoln must decide if their intense connection is strong enough to survive outside the romantic fantasy they’ve created. Yet Lincoln is only one of Anna’s dilemmas. Now that her campaign is off the ground, others in the office want to steal her success, and her alcoholic brother, Ferdie, is spiraling out of control. 
To have the life she wants-to be happy without guilt, to be accepted for herself, to love and to be loved, to just be—she has to put herself first, accept her imperfections, embrace her passions, and finally be the heroine of her own story.

I am a lover of YA, but as a twenty something college student, job dreamer and future haver, I really enjoy delving into women's literary fiction. It is very nice to know that it is okay to not have everything figured out. Even at 40. Life doesn't always work the way we plan it to and I enjoy a friendly reminder that great fiction is fond at every level and GIRL BEFORE A MIRROR really exceeded my expectations.

When I first saw Girl Before a Mirror, I was immediately intrigued because 1.) I have heard many fantastic things a bout the author and 2.) The Ad Agency life is one I have always been interested in. I wanted to see what Anna's life was like and her story instantly interested me on multiple levels as it seemed to be a story of rediscovery.

The first meeting with our heroine is uplifting, her 40th birthday has just taken place and it becomes clear early on that his new beginning is more than just a personal decisions and new awakening of sorts as she begins to view her new place in life. Early on we learn that it is more than a personal decision or enlightenment, but a choice that was not her own. Anna seems to have taken strength from her emotional state and at the opening of the novel is in a place where she wants to "just be." She expresses this early in the novel and it is an idea that is central to Anna's progression and part of what I liked so much about her. She is used to being everything for everyone, but in the end wants to "just be."

What I really loved about this book was the was the humor and the easy writing style Liza Palmer used. Liza Palmer wrote in a conversational way that made me feel as if I was being told a story. It was fun to read, and I enjoyed seeing Anna's world and veing introduced to her world.

I LOVED the use of the romance "How To" book - "Be the Heroine, Find Your Hero"I wish it was a real book because I am highly interested. I do not think This book seemed to give women the power to "just be" and to gain importance and respect from romantic relationships. I am a feminist, and this book really hit home with female empowerment. Anna uses the book to uplift herself.

While some of the secondary characters got on my nerves a bit, I really enjoyed GIRL BEFORE A MIRROR and will definitely be reading Liza Palmer's other novels quickly.

If you enjoy great writing, a true heroine, and a story of a women empowerment, this book is for you! It definitely comes recommended.

Time for a giveaway! 

Enter to win one of two copies of Girl Before a Mirror by Liza Palmer! 

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