Book Blogger Hop (17)

Book Blogger Hop is a meme hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer every Friday-Thursday. It's a great opportunity to network and visit other blogs and meet new bloggers. 

This weeks question is: 

"Can you read in a room with noise or do you have to have total quiet?"

I answered: 

If I am reading a textbook (or something else school related) then I need silence or very low music. Other than that, if I'm really into the book then nothing really bothers me.

What about you? Leave your answer to this weeks question in the comments below.

Book of the Month: May 2015

Book of the Month is a monthly event, hosted by Book Whales. This is done to highlight one of the books we have read in the previous month. This meme is great because it lets us recommend that one amazing book we have read that we just can't stop talking about!

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My book of the month for May is...

Whatever Life 
Throws at You
by Julie Cross

From Goodreads:
Life loves a good curveball...Seventeen-year-old Annie Lucas' life is completely upended the moment her dad returns to the major leagues as the new pitching coach for the Kansas City Royals. Now she's living in Missouri (too cold), attending an all-girls school (no boys), and navigating the strange world of professional sports. But Annie has dreams of her own--most of which involve placing first at every track meet...and one starring the Royals' super-hot rookie pitcher.

But nineteen-year-old Jason Brody is completely, utterly, and totally off-limits. Besides, her dad would kill them both several times over. Not to mention Brody has something of a past, and his fan club is filled with C-cupped models, not smart-mouthed high schools "brats" who can run the pants off every player on the team. Annie has enough on her plate without taking their friendship to the next level. The last thing she should be doing is falling in love.

But baseball isn't just a game. It's life. And sometimes, it can break your heart...

I loved everything about this. Keep an eye out for the review!

Cover Reveal: Forget Tomorrow by Pintip Dunn

Title: Forget Tomorrow

Author: Pintip Dunn
Publisher: Entangled: Teen

Release Date: November 3, 2015

Imagine a world where your destiny has already been decided...by your future self.

It's Callie's seventeenth birthday and, like everyone else, she's eagerly awaiting her vision--a memory sent back in time to sculpt each citizen into the person they're meant to be. A world-class swimmer. A renowned scientist.

Or in Callie's case, a criminal.

In her vision, she sees herself murdering her gifted younger sister. Before she can process what it means, Callie is arrested and placed in Limbo--a prison for those destined to break the law. With the help of her childhood crush, Logan, a boy she hasn't spoken to in five years, she escapes the hellish prison.

But on the run from her future, as well as the government, Callie sets in motion a chain of events that she hopes will change her fate. If not, she must figure out how to protect her sister from the biggest threat of all--Callie, herself. 

| Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Amazon |

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About the Author:
When my first-grade teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I author.” Although I have pursued other interests over the years, this dream has never wavered. I graduated from Harvard University, magna cum laude, with an A.B. in English Literature and Language. I received my J.D. at Yale Law School, where I was an editor of the YALE LAW JOURNAL. I published an article in the YALE LAW JOURNAL, entitled, “How Judges Overrule: Speech Act Theory and the Doctrine of Stare Decisis,” and received the Barry S. Kaplan Prize for best paper in Law and Literature. I am represented by literary agent Beth Miller of Writers House. I'm a 2012 Golden Heart® finalist and a 2014 double-finalist. I'm a member of Romance Writers of America, Washington Romance Writers, YARWA, and The Golden Network. I live with my husband and children in Maryland.

| Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook |

Feature & Follow Friday (33) / Friday 56 (2)

Feature & Follow Friday is a meme hosted by Parajunkiee's View & Alison Can Read. Check out their blogs and the two Featured Bloggers of the week! This is great for finding amazing new blogs to follow and for gaining followers yourself!

This weeks question is: 
"How many books have you got on your TBR list?"

I answered: 
Oh man... I honestly have no idea. My Goodreads shelf says I currently have 2,086 books that I want to read. But I never seem to make a dent in that number because I'm constantly adding more and don't read fast enough to actually catch up! I have an entire TBR shelf at home that is completely full of books I have yet to open because I either go to the library or get ARCs to review from Netgalley or through book tours. I really need to go through the list and delete most of them because this is getting ridiculously out of hand.

What about you? Leave your answer to this weeks question in the comments below.
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The Friday 56 is a meme hosted by Freda's Voice. Basically you flip to page 56 (or 56% in your eReader) of any book and post a sentence or two (more if you want) from that page without being too spoiler-y. This gives us a glimpse into what you are reading or have read, and may even prompt us to add your book to our TBR piles!
My teaser:

We stand there. "Come on. Let's just go talk," he says. 

"Why? Do you know why she killed herself?" 

Recoil. Like the recoil of a gun. It's what he does again. Like he's been physically yanked back. Only this time, it's not anger that's on his face; it's something else. "No," he says.

Excerpt From: Gayle Forman. “I Was Here.”

Cover Reveal: Library Jumpers by Brenda Drake

Title: Library Jumpers

Author: Brenda Drake
Publisher: Entangled: Teen

Release Date: January 5, 2016

Gia Kearns would rather fight with boys than kiss them. That is, until Arik, a leather in the Boston Athenaeum, suddenly disappears. While examining the book of world libraries he abandoned, Gia unwittingly speaks the key that sucks her and her friends into a photograph and transports them into a Paris library, where Arik and his Sentinels—magical knights charged with protecting humans from the creatures traveling across the gateway books—rescue them from a demonic hound.

Jumping into some of the world's most beautiful libraries would be a dream come true for Gia, if she weren’t busy resisting her heart or dodging an exiled wizard seeking revenge on both the Mystik and human worlds. Add a French flirt obsessed with Arik and a fling with a young wizard, and Gia must choose between her heart and her head, between Arik's world and her own, before both are destroyed.

| Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Amazon |

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About the Author: 

Brenda Drake, the youngest of three children, grew up an Air Force brat and the continual new kid at school until her family settled in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Brenda's fondest memories growing up is of her eccentric, Irish grandmother's animated tales, which gave her a strong love for storytelling. So it was only fitting that she would choose to write young adult and middle grade novels with a bend toward the fantastical. When Brenda's not writing or doing the social media thing, she's haunting libraries, bookstores, and coffee shops or reading some place quiet and not at all exotic (much to her disappointment).

| Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook |

Coundown Widget:

Waiting on Wednesday (35)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we can not wait to read! This meme is the perfect way to add books to your TBR list. Along with upcoming releases, I sometimes include books that I have not had the chance to read or buy even if they have already come out. 

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More Happy Than Not
by Adam Silvera

Release Date: June 2, 2015

From Barnes & Noble:
The Leteo Institute's revolutionary memory-relief procedure seems too good to be true to Aaron Soto--miracle cure-alls don't tend to pop up in the Bronx projects. Aaron caould never forget how he's grown up poor, how his friends aren't there for him, or how his father committed suicide in their one-bedroom apartment. Aaron has the support of his patient girlfriend, if not necessarily his distant brother and overworked mother, but it's not enough.

Then Thomas shows up. He has a sweet movie-watching setup on his roof, and he doesn't mind Aaron's obsession with a popular fantasy series. There are nicknames, inside jokes. Most importantly, Thomas doesn't mind talking about Aaron's past. But Aaron's newfound happiness isn't welcome on his block. Since he can't stay away from Thomas or suddenly stop being gay, Aaron must turn to Leteo to straighten himself out, even if it means forgetting who he is.

| Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Amazon |

Excerpt & Giveaway of Granting Wishes by Julie Wetzel

Title:  Kindling Flames: Granting Wishes

Author:  Julie Wetzel

Published:  May 26th, 2015

Genre:  NA Urban Paranormal Romance

Recommended Age: 18+

Leprechauns don't exist. Or that's what Cathren has always believed, but a chance encounter changes everything. When she saves a handsome stranger from a nasty electrical shock, not only does he claim to be one, but he also insists on granting her wishes. Now she must decide--is he insane, or a magical creature of lore? Unsure which is true, she grabs at the first three wishes she can think of: true love, happiness, and waffles. A tall order for most men, but not for Patrick Brogan. With a little persistence and just a touch of magic, anything is possible.

| Goodreads | 

Excerpt: 

“What’s your name?” the man asked. His voice was pleasant and warm with a bit of an accent that Cathren could spend hours listening to under other circumstances.

“Cathren,” she informed him as she pulled on the smile she used for difficult customers.

“Cathren.” The man repeated her name with a bit of a roll in the ‘r’. “Such a fitting name.” His eyes twinkled with merriment before getting serious. “Well, Cathren, my name is Patrick, and I don’t know how you’ve done it, but you caught me. Now what do you want?” Patrick leaned his elbow on the counter. The corner of his mouth turned up in amusement.

“What?” Cathren asked, confused.

Patrick pushed the sleeve of his sweater up and showed her his forearm. A bloody fingerprint stained his skin. “What do you want?” he asked again, holding the toned arm out for her to see.

“I am so sorry.” Cathren gasped as she pulled out some paper towels from under the counter. Squirting some hand sanitizer on them, she wiped her blood off his arm. The blood had perfectly covered a small tattoo of a shamrock. It was an odd place to put the clover—seeing as he had no other tattoos—and she couldn’t have hit it more exactly if she tried.

“It’s fine, lass.” The man pushed her worrying hands away and glanced at the tattoo on his arm. “Looks like you get three.” He looked back up at her. “Now, what do you want?”

Cathren just shook her head, not understanding him. “What do you mean?”

Patrick let out a resigned breath. “Traditionally, when you catch a leprechaun, they have to barter for their release.” A wry smirk slipped across his face. “And since I couldn’t stop the magic from settling, it looks like I’m going to be held to that tradition. It’s just turned into your lucky day. You get three wishes. Now, what do you want?”

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About the Author:

Originally from Ohio, Julie always dreamed of a job in science. Either shooting for the stars or delving into the mysteries of volcanoes. But, life never leads where you expect. In 2007, she moved to Mississippi to be with her significant other. 

Now a mother of a hyperactive red headed boy, what time she's not chasing down dirty sicks and unsticking toys from the ceiling is spent crafting worlds readers can get lost in. Julie is a self-proclaimed bibliophile and lover of big words. She likes hiking, frogs, interesting earrings, and a plethora of other fun things. 

| Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads |

Crimson Tree Publishing Links:

| Website | Facebook | Twitter |

Giveaway:

Book Blogger Hop (16)

Book Blogger Hop is a meme hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer every Friday-Thursday. It's a great opportunity to network and visit other blogs and meet new bloggers. 

This weeks question is: 

"Why would you stop reading a book? Too long, wrong genre, bad language, not what you expected, or something totally different?"

I answered: 

I try really, really, really hard to never just stop reading a book because what if it gets good right before I decide to stop? I feel like every book I start deserves to be finished. But there have been a few cases where I just could not continue for multiple reasons:

• The writing was just plain bad
• I could not bring myself to like the characters
• There was a weak/not very interesting plot
• Reminded me too much of another novel

What about you? Leave your answer to this weeks question in the comments below.

Feature & Follow Friday (32) / Friday 56 (1)

Feature & Follow Friday is a meme hosted by Parajunkiee's View & Alison Can Read. Check out their blogs and the two Featured Bloggers of the week! This is great for finding amazing new blogs to follow and for gaining followers yourself!

This weeks question is: 

"How do you write your reviews?"

I answered: 

I always start off with my own synopsis and after that I don't really have a set way of writing my reviews. I take notes as I go to remember key things I want to say and I pretty much just talk about what I like and what I don't about whatever book I am reviewing. I've noticed I focus a lot on the characters because to me the characters are one of the most important aspects of a book; they can honestly make or break it for me. My biggest concern when writing a review is probably making sure I don't ramble...lol Other than that, I just try to be as truthful with my opinion as possible and try to highlight the best parts even if I end up not liking the book overall.

What about you? Leave your answer to this weeks question in the comments below.

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The Friday 56 is a meme hosted by Frida's Voice. Basically you flip to page 56 (or 56% in your eReader) of any book and post a sentence or two (more if you want) from that page without being too spoiler-y. This gives us a glimpse into what you are reading or have read, and may even prompt us to add your book to our TBR piles!

My teaser:
“Two chimes from the clock ring through the room, and I jump in surprise. That means they were exposed around noon. Correction, I exposed them around noon.”

Excerpt From: Megan Carney. “Sarina, Sweetheart.”

Review (49): I Am Alive by Cameron Jace

I Am Alive

by Cameron Jace

Series: I Am Alive, #1

Other Reviewed Titles: None
Release Date: May 23, 2012

Pages: 267

Format: ebook

Source: Author

Challenge: None

Author Website

My Thoughts: 

Decca Tenderstone lives in a world where teens are given a rank between 5 - 9 at the age of sixteen. For some, this rank defines their futures but for others it means the end of their lives. Those unlucky enough to be ranked under a 5 are called “Monsters” and are seen as a burden to society. Because the government seeks Utopia, those unranked are thrown into an arena and forced to play deadly games. No one has ever come out alive.

Let me just start off by saying that I really did give this a fair try. I had planned on finishing it, but I couldn’t even make it halfway. According to my Kindle for Mac app I read exactly 30% before I finally gave up. 

This really lacked creativity in my opinion. This is basically The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins except for a few details here and there. Instead of drawing 2 tributes from each district, any sixteen-year-old in Faya that was not ranked above a five was thrown into an arena (at one point there are actually about 3,000 kids in there) where they had to survive deadly games. This “Monster Show” was broadcasted all over the world and overseen by a Trickster. Also, Decca, kisses one of the “Monsters,” Leo, in order to keep him in the games and save his life. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying it is EXACTLY like THG, but it was all way too similar for me. 

The dialogue between the characters was also problematic. It just felt unnatural. The characters would all basically just blurt out a bunch of facts instead of having actual conversations; there was too much telling and not enough showing. Plus they didn’t even sound like they were 16. I haven’t been this age for 3 years now, but even I know sixteen-year-olds don’t talk like this. 

Remember: Just because I didn’t enjoy this doesn’t mean you won’t. I read a lot of 4+ star reviews for this, so if you think you’ll like it, give it a go. 

| Goodreads | Amazon |

Waiting on Wednesday (34)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we can not wait to read! This meme is the perfect way to add books to your TBR list. Along with upcoming releases, I sometimes include books that I have not had the chance to read or buy even if they have already come out. 

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Off the Page
by Jodi Picoult &
Samantha Van Leer

Release Date: May 19, 2015

From Barnes & Noble:
Meet Oliver, a prince literally taken from the pages of a fairy tale and transported into the real world. Meet Delilah, the girl who wished Oliver into being. It's a miracle that seems perfect at first. Sure, Oliver doesn't know that you shouldn't try to open your locker with a dagger or that there's no such thing as "the ruler" of the local mall. But he also looks at Delilah as if she's the only girl in the world--the only girl in any world--and Delilah can't help feeling that being with him is a dream come to life.

But not every story can have a happy ending. Because the book wants Oliver back. And it will turn both worlds upside down to get him.

Oliver and Delilah will have to decide what--and who--they're willing to risk for love and what it really means for a fairy tale to come true. 

Excerpt & Giveaway of Mia and the Bad Boy

Title: Mia and the Bad Boy
(Backstage Pass #2)

Author: Lisa Burstein

Release Date: May 19, 2015

This good girl’s about to meet her match…

Ryder Brooks is living the dream—he’s famous, loved by millions of girls, and miserable. All he really wants is to write his own music, not Seconds to Juliet’s sugary sweet pop. In order to do that, though, the “bad boy” of the band will have to play by the rules. And that includes behaving with his new—and super cute—über-good-girl tutor.

Mia Reyes is in fangirl heaven. Tutoring her favorite member of her favorite band? It’s a dream come true…until it turns into a complete nightmare. Ryder is nothing like she thought. He’s crude, arrogant, and pretty much a total jerk. And the worst part? She’s roped into pretending to be his girlfriend so that no one finds out he’s being tutored. Fake kisses, plenty of PDA, and even sharing his hotel room…

But sometimes even the baddest of bad boys needs a little redemption.

| Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Kobo Books | iBooks |

Excerpt: 

“Great show,” she said, needing to say something. She clasped her hands in her lap.

“The fans seemed to like it,” Ryder said, standing just beyond the doorway. “You didn’t have to wait up for me.”

“I kind of did,” Mia said, indicating the couch. If she set up the bed, that meant she was okay with this arrangement, and while her body definitely was, it was hard to get her mind to catch up.

Never mind catching up. Before Mia could even take another breath, Ryder was peeling off his shirt like Mia wasn’t even there, or maybe he’d done that because she was.

“Sorry, I can’t wait to get out of my clothes as soon as the show is over.”

They both looked at his belt buckle.

Ryder laughed. “I’ll change in the bathroom per your rule,” he said.

She understood with more and more certainty that she was going to share a bed with Ryder Brooks.

Would he try to kiss her? Would he try more? Would she be able to deal with it if he did? What if he didn’t? The questions swirled around Mia’s brain like fireflies.

“We don’t have to go to sleep right away,” Ryder said, maybe sensing her fear.

“I don’t know if I’m going to be able to sleep at all,” she admitted.

“You don’t have to be scared,” Ryder said, the muscles in his arms bulging as he pushed his hair back. She stared at the tribal tattoo wrapped around one bicep, black as the darkest reaches of outer space.

Mia’s mouth started to water and she realized she wasn’t only scared, she was hungry. She wanted to touch Ryder’s tattoo, taste the water and sweat on his skin. Regrettably, the hunger scared her, too. Mia spit-laughed to cover it up. “You think I’m scared of you? No way.”

“Then I guess I’ll change my pants right here,” Ryder replied, clearly calling her bluff. He moved his fingers to his belt buckle, and her heart seemed to fly up and beat from behind her eyes. He was taking her right to the edge.

Mia looked down. She needed to tell him the truth. “Considering what I admitted last night, it shouldn’t surprise you that I’ve never shared a bed with a boy before. I know this is an every-night thing for you, but it’s not for me.”

Ryder’s mouth widened into a grin that made Mia crave this being an every-night thing for her.

“Haven’t you ever done something your mother wouldn’t approve of?” he asked, stepping closer to her.

“Sure,” she said, not understanding how talking about her mother was supposed to make her feel any calmer about sharing a bed with Ryder.

“So tell me, then.” He stood over her, his stomach at eye level.

She was staring at Ryder Brooks’s belly button, his chiseled abs. How had she not died yet?

Mia searched her brain. Was it really that her mom would freak out if she knew she was sharing a bed with Ryder, or if she knew Mia’s feelings for him would probably only increase once she did?

“Maybe I should guess,” Ryder said, the muscles of his stomach moving up and down as he spoke. “You rode a mechanical bull once, or tied a cherry stem with your tongue.”

Mia knew he was being a smart-ass, but she could be a smart-ass, too.

She looked up at him, shirtless, beautiful, wet Ryder Brooks, and said something that no girl in her right mind would ever say. “And then what? Will you reciprocate by telling me about this one time at band camp?”

Ryder burst out laughing. “I got kicked out of band camp.” He headed toward the bathroom. “Don’t worry,” he said, peeking out from behind the door before he closed it. “I’ll put a shirt on.”

A thought her mother definitely wouldn’t approve of clouded her vision, but she couldn’t bring herself to say the words out loud. I don’t want you to.

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About the Author:
Lisa Burstein is a tea seller by day and a writer by night. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from the Inland Northwest Center for Writers at Eastern Washington University and is glad to finally have it be worth more than the paper it was printed on. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her very patient husband, a neurotic dog and two cats. She wrote her first story when she was in second grade. It was a Thanksgiving tale from the point of view of the turkey from freezer to oven to plate. It was scandalous.

| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads |

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Interview (& Giveaway) with Cate Cameron, Author of Cate Cameron

Title: Center Ice
(Corrigan Falls Raiders)

Author: Cate Cameron

Release Date: May 19, 2015

The hometown hockey hero won’t know what hit him…

Karen Webber is in small-town hell. After her mother’s death, she moved to Corrigan Falls to live with strangers—her dad and his perfect, shiny new family—and there doesn’t seem to be room for a city girl with a chip on her shoulder. The only person who makes her feel like a real human being is Tyler MacDonald.

But Karen isn’t interested in starting something with a player. And that’s all she keeps hearing about Tyler.

Corrigan Falls is a hockey town, and Tyler’s the star player. But the viselike pressure from his father and his agent are sending him dangerously close to the edge. All people see is hockey—except Karen. Now they’ve managed to find something in each other that they both desperately need. And for the first time, Tyler is playing for keeps…

| Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Kobo Books | iBooks |

What do you like best about being a writer? What is the most challenging part?I like getting to live all the different lives with my characters, creating people who I’d love to hang out with in real life. I hate… well, honestly, I’m not crazy about promo. I love chatting with people and just getting excited about books and stories and whatever, but I’m always a bit torn when it comes time to mention my own work. I feel like I’ve just made all these nice friends and now I’m cheapening that by trying to make them spend money! I’m just not a natural salesperson at ALL. So generally I follow the “Best promotion is the next book” approach, and try to do most of my promo via writing more stories!

What does a typical writing day look for you?When I’ve got the chance to write full time, I tend to be pretty scattered. Half-an-hour working on a story, then check e-mail and Facebook and writers’ boards, then back to the story, then I have to check something out on the internet, then back to writing, then pick up and move to another location, then put in in a load of laundry, then write some more, then check e-mail, etc. I don’t really isolate myself and get immersive.

Describe your writing cave.Have laptop, will travel. I have a home office, but in the winter I’ll work in front of the fireplace a lot, and in the summer I like to write outside. I also often get ideas when I’m driving, and will pull over and dictate ideas into my phone so I can try them out when I get home. The one thing that’s in common with all of my writing locations, except for maybe the car, is Jack, my yellow lab. He hears all my story ideas before I type them up, and he approves of every single one. (Which actually shows that he’s not a very critical thinker, because some of my ideas are just plain stupid. This is why dogs are very rarely hired to be editors.)

Who is your favorite book boyfriend?I’m going with Austen, but NOT Mr. Darcy! Persuasion is my favourite Austen novel, and despite the less-than-sexy name, Frederick Wentworth is my favourite Austen hero. He’s so patient, and strong, and he forgives Anne and sees her in ways no one else does. Sigh. So romantic!

Speed Round:
Coffee or Tea? Diet Coke!
Beach or Ski slopes? Beach
Paperback or ebook? ebook
Movie adaptation or book? book
Sweet or savory? savory

Once again, thank you for sitting down with us & good luck with your next novel!

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About the Author:
Cate Cameron grew up in the city but moved to the country in her mid-twenties and isn't looking back. Most of her writing deals with people living and loving in small towns or right out in the sticks - when there aren't entertainment options on every corner, other people get a lot more interesting! She likes to write stories about real people struggling with real issues. YA, NA, or contemporary romance, her books are connected by their emphasis on subtle humor and characters who are trying to do the right thing, even when it would be a lot easier to do something wrong.

| Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook |

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Top Ten Tuesday (10)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

So this weeks topic is: Top Ten Books I Read Last Year
This week is a freebie so this is my topic of choice. I read a total of 83 books last year and here are some of my favorites in no particular order.

• Looking for Alaska by John Green
• Sea Breeze Series (1-5) by Abbi Glines
• Cress by Marissa Meyer
• Insurgent & Allegiant by Veronica Roth 
• Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
• She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott
• What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen
• The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
• The Vincent Boys Series by Abbi Glines

Feature & Follow Friday (31)

Feature & Follow Friday is a meme hosted by Parajunkiee's View & Alison Can Read. Check out their blogs and the two Featured Bloggers of the week! This is great for finding amazing new blogs to follow and for gaining followers yourself!

This weeks question is: 

"How do you organize your books? Either at home on your books shelves or on your reading-device, or on your bookish platform like Goodreads, Leafmarks or Booklikes." 

I answered: 

At home I have 3 large bookshelves and I have my books organized alphabetically by author. This just makes it easier to find them because I tend to remember authors more than I do titles, I don't know why. As for on a bookish platform, I use Goodreads and just have my books divided on the 3 general "bookshelves" they have. I also created one where I sort out the books I've reviewed here on the blog so I can go back and look for them if I ever need.

What about you? Leave your answer to this weeks question in the comments below.

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Review (48): Airhead by Meg Cabot

Airhead

by Meg Cabot

Series: Airhead, #1

Other Reviewed Titles: None
Release Date: June 1, 2008

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.

Pages: 337

Format: Hardcover

Source: Library

Challenge: None

Author Website 

Book Website

My Thoughts: 

Emerson Watts is the farthest thing there is to a “girly-girl”. She prefers to spend her time playing video games with her best friend--and secret crush--Christopher, rather than obsessing over celebrities like her younger sister. So when she is forced to babysit Frida at the grand opening of the new Stark Megastore near their apartment, she is not thrilled. She has better things to do than drool over British singer-songwriter, Gabriel Luna, but her mom insists she go along. Who could have predicted that a freak accident would land Em in the hospital? When she wakes up from a chemically induced coma, no one will tell her what happened or why her voice sounds so different...like maybe it belongs to someone else.  

First off, where do I sign up to be transplanted into the body of a Victoria’s Secret supermodel (preferably Adriana Lima but I’m not picky) because I am all over that. Who wouldn’t be, right?

Airhead is more of an introduction to the rest of the series. Nothing major happens except for the accident and then her ‘transformation’. Emerson spends the majority of the book in and out of consciousness at the hospital or trying to figure out why no one will tell her exactly what happened. Only towards the end does she take her place as Nikki Howard where she finds out just how complicated and hard it actually is being a famous and gorgeous supermodel. She also meets all of Nikki’s friends and boyfriends--yes, plural. There isn’t too much excitement or action in this one, but we do get a hint at a possible mystery--as well as a bit of romance--to come which got me excited for Being Nikki. 

The characters are all very likable. Emerson is funny, witty, and smart. I found it amusing to watch her struggle to fit into her new life. She goes from wearing sweats almost everyday to being a fashion icon and she really has no idea how to handle it. I think a bit of Nikki might still be in there somewhere because I definitely noticed a change from how Em was in the beginning.  When Lulu was first introduced I was expecting her to be bitchy and full of herself, but she wasn’t at all. She is a bit dumb, but very sweet and well-intentioned. Her theory as to why ‘Nikki’ is all of a sudden acting different is hilarious. As for the new and old boys in her life, I’m rooting for Gabriel. I mean, the boy wrote a song about her, is constantly saving her, and is British--what’s not to love?

This isn’t my favorite Meg Cabot novel (that honor goes to All-American Girl or maybe Avalon High...I still haven’t decided), but I did thoroughly enjoy it. 

| Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Amazon |

Waiting on Wednesday (33)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we can not wait to read! This meme is the perfect way to add books to your TBR list. Along with upcoming releases, I sometimes include books that I have not had the chance to read or buy even if they have already come out. 

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Made You Up
by Francesca Zappia

Release Date: May 19, 2015

From Barnes & Noble:
Alex fights a daily battle to figure out what is real and what is not. Armed with a take-no-prisoners attitude, her camera, a Magic 8 Ball, and her only ally (her little sister), Alex wages a war against her schizophrenia, determined to stay sane long enough to get into college. She's pretty optimistic about her chances until she runs into Miles. Didn't she image him? Before she knows it, Alex is making friends, going to parties, failling in love, and experiencing all the usual rites of passage for teenagers. But Alex is used to being crazy. She's not prepared for normal. Can she trust herself? Can we trust her?

Top Ten Tuesday (9)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

So this weeks topic is: Ten Authors I Really Want to Meet

• John Green - I follow him on Tumblr and he just seems like a really cool person that I could learn a lot from. Plus his books are pretty great.
• Lemony Snicket - I'm pretty sure that A Series of Unfortunate Events is what made me an avid reader and bibliophile. I've always wanted to know why he used the number 13 religiously.
• Sarah Dessen - I always look forward to her new releases.

I'm going to leave this open and try to update it throughout the day because I can't think of anyone else???