tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40223679296423297732024-02-18T21:16:21.001-08:00Thoughts Of An Endless DreamerTaylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712175102320496174noreply@blogger.comBlogger228125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022367929642329773.post-59775680076282664492013-07-11T21:06:00.000-07:002013-07-11T21:07:34.525-07:00Dirty Little Secret Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway!<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Title:</b> Dirty Little Secret<br />
<b>Author:</b> Jennifer Echols<br />
<b>Publication Date: </b>July 16th, 2013<br />
<b>Genre: </b>YA - Contemporary<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"<i><b>From the author of the “real page-turner” (Seventeen) Such a Rush comes an unforgettable new drama that follows friends-turned-lovers as they navigate the passions, heartbreaks, and intrigue of country music fame.</b></i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Bailey wasn’t always a wild child and the black sheep of her family. She used to play fiddle and tour the music circuit with her sister, Julie, who sang and played guitar. That ended when country music execs swooped in and signed Julie to a solo deal. Never mind that Julie and Bailey were a duet, or that Bailey was their songwriter. The music scouts wanted only Julie, and their parents were content to sit by and let her fulfill her dreams while Bailey’s were hushed away.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Bailey has tried to numb the pain and disappointment over what could have been. And as Julie’s debut album is set to hit the charts, her parents get fed up with Bailey’s antics and ship her off to granddad’s house in Nashville. Playing fiddle in washed-up tribute groups at the mall, Bailey meets Sam, a handsome and oh-so-persuasive guitarist with his own band. He knows Bailey’s fiddle playing is just the thing his band needs to break into the industry. But this life has broken Bailey’s heart once before. She isn’t sure she’s ready to let Sam take her there again…" <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16058488-dirty-little-secret">~See it on Goodreads!</a></span></blockquote>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><b><i>My Review:</i></b></span></div>
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<b><i>Dirty Little Secret </i></b>is the first book by <b><i>Jennifer Echols </i></b>that I’ve read, it’s a shame I know! I’ve been meaning to read some of her previous work but I never seemed to get around to it, but I’m really glad I finally did. It’s no secret that I’m a Contemporary lover, and this one satisfied that itch I’d been having lately to read a good Contemporary! <br />
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I really liked Bailey’s character, she was a really dedicated and talented musician. Her parents really neglected her and let her fall to the wayside in order to support her sister Julie as soon as she got signed to a record label. She had her flaws and was a nit bitter about the whole situation and how they treated her, but who wouldn’t be? I like when I can see a character change and grow/mature in a story and we definitely got to see that with Bailey. I kind of had a love/hate relationship with Sam, there’s no denying he’s pretty swoon-worthy and quite the charmer, and not to mention really dedicated to his music like Bailey. But there were times when honestly I just wanted to smack him one good time for how he was acting. As the story continues you see that he really is a good guy and a gentleman at heart but there were definitely times when it was questionable, but I think that added some realness to the story.<br />
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I really liked how Ms. Echols portrayed the Nashville setting, as a country music fan myself I thought it was realistically done and I thought the mall impersonator circuit was an interesting and unique twist on it! I think the author did a really good job of bringing that element of southern charm to the story and there was a good deal of focus on the actual musical aspect of the book and since that’s what the book is mainly based around I’m glad to say it didn’t fall short in my expectations.<br />
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This was a fun and enjoyable read and I’m really glad I got the chance to pick it up. If you love Contemporaries then <i style="font-weight: bold;">Dirty Little Secret </i>is definitely worth the read, especially if you happen to be a country music fan! I’ll definitely be picking up more books by this author in the very near future!<br />
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<b><i>3.5 Stars!</i></b><br />
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<b><i>About The Author:</i></b></div>
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Jennifer Echols was born in Atlanta and grew up in a small town on a beautiful lake in Alabama—a setting that has inspired many of her books. She has written nine romantic novels for young adults, including the comedy MAJOR CRUSH, which won the National Readers’ Choice Award, and the drama GOING TOO FAR, which was a finalist in the RITA, the National Readers’ Choice Award, and the Book Buyer’s Best, and was nominated by the American Library Association as a Best Book for Young Adults. Simon & Schuster will debut her adult romance novels in 2013, with many more teen novels scheduled for the next few years. She lives in Birmingham with her husband and her son.<br />
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<b><i>Official Links:</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Website: </i></b><a href="http://jennifer-echols.com/"><b>http://jennifer-echols.com/</b></a></div>
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<b><b><i>Twitter:</i></b> <a href="https://twitter.com/JenniferEchols">https://twitter.com/JenniferEchols</a></b></div>
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<em style="color: #181818; line-height: 18px; text-align: start;"><strong>Also be sure to enter the giveaway below for a chance to win! It's tour wide and will be on every tour stop!</strong></em><br />
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/64262975/" id="rc-64262975" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712175102320496174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022367929642329773.post-78440934691134811832013-06-21T00:00:00.000-07:002013-06-21T00:00:07.607-07:00Cover Reveal: Chasing Dirt Roads by Pixie Lynn Whitfield + An Exclusive Excerpt!<div style="text-align: center;">
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Okay lovelies, I'm so ridiculously excited to announce the cover reveal of <b><i>Chasing Dirt Roads</i></b>, which is a New Adult, Contemporary novel written by my dear friend <i><b>Pixie Lynn Whitfield! </b></i>I'm really excited for this book to come out! I'm a huge Contemporary lover so it's right up my alley!</div>
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Well I know you're all dying to see this cover (which happens to be gorgeous by the way!), so without further ado, I'd like to present the cover for <b><i>Chasing Dirt Roads!</i></b></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Synopsis:</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Chasing Dirt Roads:</i></b><br />"<b><i>LOVELY HEIGHTS, MISSISSIPPI</i></b>.<br /> It's the last place I wanted to be during the most important summer of my potential photography career. I was used to this though. Mom and I have been running the roads since I was thirteen while I stood by quietly and let her take me wherever. Cans and bottles littered our junked-out old Buick with the boxes. But something was different about the place this time. His name was Cooper Reed...<br /> ****<br /> When eighteen-year-old Kenley Brooks moves to Lovely Heights, she's tired. Tired of moving around the country. Tired of taking care of her drunk mother. She just wants to finally settle down, live a normal life and get back into pursuing her photography dreams. After meeting Cooper and his friends, she thinks she could. But she has deep secrets and people are starting to gossip." <b><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17664735-chasing-dirt-roads?ac=1">~See it on Goodreads</a></i></b><b><i><br /></i></b><b>Estimated/Expected Release Date: January 2014</b></span></blockquote>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Now for a little extra treat, here's an exclusive excerpt from the book!!</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"I heard him before I saw him, but when my eyes adjusted, I saw the young man standing on the inside of the fence, slightly off to the side. When I turned my head toward his voice, he came forward. I swallowed the lump forming in my throat and took a quick step backward. I couldn’t make out all of his features in the darkness.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">“No, no. I’m sorry.” I heard my voice stutter out in a hurry. My mouth felt dry. He stepped up to the fence, placing his hands over the wood, and let out a friendly laugh. It rolled out in gentle baritone waves.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">“It was a joke. Yeah, this is our property, but we let everyone come by and go swimming in the pond. Just clean up any trash—cans, bottles, wrappers. That’s all we ask.”<br /> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">“Oh.” I was barely choking out syllables. I’d always struggled talking with strangers, especially guys. Most especially good-looking guys. Which I realized he definitely was as he got closer.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">“You’re new…the new neighbor from down the road, aren’t you?”<br /> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I nodded, this time not even uttering a word, and hoped he could see my head bobbing. A goofy grin spread across his cheeks. His teeth were straight, with a slight gap between his front teeth giving him a more youthful, boyish appearance. He couldn’t be much older than me. His hair looked brown, but it was hard to tell which shade in the dark. And he was tall, at least a foot taller than me.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">He leaned against the fence and I stepped further back into the road. I turned to head back to the house with nothing else to say to the stranger. It was embarrassing in a way really.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">“Welcome to the neighborhood,” I heard him shout behind me as I started to walk away.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">“Thanks,” I muttered. My cheeks flamed."</span></blockquote>
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Be sure to check it out on <b><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17664735-chasing-dirt-roads?ac=1">Goodreads </a></i></b>and add it to your TBR lists! You know you want to, and we all have never ending TBR lists anyways so why not?? And while you're there you might just want to check out some of her other work as well! ;)</div>
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Also if you want to connect with the lovely miss <b style="font-style: italic;">Pixie Lynn Whitfield </b>you can find her at her book blog: <a href="http://the-bookaholic.blogspot.com/"><i><b>The </b></i><b><i>Bookaholic</i></b></a><b><i> </i></b>as well as her authors blog: <a href="http://pixielynnwhitfield.blogspot.com/"><b><i>Pixie Lynn Whitfield</i></b></a></div>
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You can also find her on <b><i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pixielynnbooks">Facebook</a></i></b> and <a href="https://twitter.com/addiction2books"><b><i>Twitter</i></b></a>! She loves comments, tweets, ect. from readers and is always looking to make new book loving friends so be sure to look her up!!<br />
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Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712175102320496174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022367929642329773.post-22800280357876329192013-06-20T00:00:00.000-07:002013-06-20T00:00:12.348-07:00Lost Blog Tour + Giveaway!<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Title:</b> Lost<br />
<b>Author:</b> Nadia Simonenko<br />
<b>Publication Date: </b>March 25th, 2013<br />
<b>Genre:</b> New Adult - Contemporary Romance<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"Sometimes you need someone else to help you find your way.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Maria's life was torn apart when she was fifteen, and for seven years she's kept her terrible secret hidden from the world. Now, in her final semester of college, she still struggles against paralyzing fear just trying to speak up in class, and the terror and helplessness linger on in her nightmares.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Across campus, Owen sees his scars in the mirror every morning while he gets ready for class. They remind him of the broken home he left behind, the father he hates and fears, and the little sister he couldn't protect. Now, in his final semester of college, he's scared that he may have to return to the hell he called home after staying away for almost five years.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">When Owen becomes a teaching assistant for one of Maria's classes, they find themselves irresistibly drawn to each other. As the two learn each other's secrets and grow closer, they realize that although they may be lost, they're not alone anymore.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This new adult contemporary romance is recommended for ages 17+ due to heavy subject matter." <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17457796-lost">~See it on Goodreads</a></span></blockquote>
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<strong><em><span style="font-family: inherit;">About The Author:</span></em></strong></div>
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Nadia Simonenko is a scientist and author currently living in Indianapolis with her husband, two cats and a dog. When she isn’t writing, she develops new oncolytic compounds and dreams about someday getting to take a vacation.</div>
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<b><i>Official Links:</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Website:</i></b> <a href="http://nadiaromance.com/">nadiaromance.com</a></div>
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<b><i>Twitter:</i></b> <a href="http://twitter.com/NadiaSimonenko">twitter.com/NadiaSimonenko</a></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><em><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">Also be sure to enter the giveaway below for a chance to win! It's tour wide and will be on every tour stop!</span></strong></em></span></div>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/64262958/" id="rc-64262958" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712175102320496174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022367929642329773.post-57947086709119175752013-05-04T00:00:00.000-07:002013-05-04T00:00:08.343-07:00Cover Reveal" Across the Stars and Ashes by Pixie Lynn Whitfield!!<br />
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Okay lovelies, I'm extremely excited to announce the cover reveal of <b><i>Across the Stars and Ashes</i></b>, which is the third and final installment in the <b><i>Guardians of the Night trilogy </i></b>written by my dear friend <i><b>Pixie Lynn Whitfield!</b></i><br />
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As with the first two covers she entrusted me with designing this one as well!! And I'm so glad I was able to take the ideas she had in mind, and create something that really captured the essence of the story and title and make a cover that she loves! :)<br />
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Okay so, without further ado, I give you the cover of <b><i>Across the Stars and Ashes!</i></b><br />
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<b><i>Across the Stars and Ashes (The Guardians of the Night #3):</i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"In the final conclusion of The Guardians of the Night
Trilogy, bonds are tested, unlikely allies are made, and a world is on the
brink of destruction. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Zarah has been in captivity with the Fallen Warriors. There
she learns that things are much worse for the world than she'd thought. Allies
with the humans, the Fallen have started an apocalyptic war sending the world
into chaos. Then there's Lucas, Fallen Master and source of a shocking secret.
When she makes an unexpected friend out of a Warrior during her captivity, she
realizes there's no rescue—only she can be the hero. But at what cost?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Draven never could remember his past. Now he knows why.
After learning the truth, the flashbacks start and the memories are returning.
He was one of them once.... But what would Zarah say if she knew
everything? Because his mission is clear—to get his Bond Mate back, even if it
means destroying everything in his path.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Told in dual PoV between Zarah and Draven, <b>Across the
Stars and Ashes</b> presents the thrilling final installment packed with
action and emotion, romance and family, and supernatural intensity."</i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><i>Estimated/Expected Release Date: October 22nd, 2013</i></b></div>
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Be sure to check it out on <b><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17566026-across-the-stars-and-ashes">Goodreads </a></i></b>and add it to your TBR lists!! Also if you haven't read the first two books in the series, <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13558322-darkness-comes-this-way">Darkness Comes This Way</a> </i>and <b><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15727269-through-these-wicked-nights">Through These Wicked Nights</a>,</i></b> be sure to check those out and add them to your TBR lists as well!</div>
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Also if you want to connect with the lovely miss <b style="font-style: italic;">Pixie Lynn Whitfield </b>you can find her at her blog: <a href="http://the-bookaholic.blogspot.com/"><i><b>The </b></i><b><i>Bookaholic</i></b></a><b><i> </i></b>as well as her authors blog: <a href="http://pixielynnwhitfield.blogspot.com/"><b><i>Pixie Lynn Whitfield</i></b></a></div>
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You can also find her on <b><i><a href="http://facebook.com/pixielynnbooks">Facebook </a></i></b>and <a href="https://twitter.com/addiction2books"><b><i>Twitter</i></b></a>! She loves comments, tweets, ect. from readers and friends so be sure to look her up!!<br />
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Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712175102320496174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022367929642329773.post-80158683617339726912013-04-24T00:00:00.000-07:002013-04-24T00:00:14.425-07:00Wednesday's Poetry Watch #3<br />
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<b><i>This is a new feature I’ll be posting once a week, and in each post I’ll feature a different poet or poem that I really love. I’ll share a few facts about the poet and recommend an additional poem(s) that you may enjoy as well. Poetry has always been a HUGE passion of mine whether it’s writing it, reading it, or discussing it. And I’m really looking excited to share some of the mad love I have for it with all of you lovelies! </i></b></div>
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This week I'm featuring a poet that I may be slightly obsessed with... but if you've read any of his work how can you possibly blame me? The poet I'm referring to is <i><b>William Butler Yeats</b></i>, not only are his poems gorgeous to read but he's from Ireland.. and it's well known that I have an obsession with all things Irish! </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>A few facts for you: "William Butler Yeats</b></i> (pronounced /ˈjeɪts/) was an Irish poet and dramatist, and one of the foremost figures of 20th century literature. A pillar of both the Irish and British literary establishments, in his later years Yeats served as an Irish Senator for two terms. He was a driving force behind the Irish Literary Revival, and along with Lady Gregory and Edward Martyn founded the Abbey Theatre, serving as its chief during its early years. In 1923 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for what the Nobel Committee described as "inspired poetry, which in a highly artistic form gives expression to the spirit of a whole nation." He was the first Irishman so honored. Yeats is generally considered one of the few writers who completed their greatest works after being awarded the Nobel Prize; such works include The Tower (1928) and The Winding Stair and Other Poems (1929).</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Yeats was born and educated in Dublin but spent his childhood in County Sligo. He studied poetry in his youth, and from an early age was fascinated by both Irish legends and the occult. Those topics feature in the first phase of his work, which lasted roughly until the turn of the century. His earliest volume of verse was published in 1889, and those slow paced and lyrical poems display debts to Edmund Spenser and Percy Bysshe Shelley, as well as to the Pre-Raphaelite poets. From 1900, Yeats' poetry grew more physical and realistic. He largely renounced the transcendental beliefs of his youth, though he remained preoccupied with physical and spiritual masks, as well as with cyclical theories of life." ~Wikipedia</span></blockquote>
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<span style="text-align: center;">One of my absolute favorite poems by <i style="font-weight: bold;">Yeats </i>would have to be, "<i style="font-weight: bold;">He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven". </i></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">"He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven"</i></span></div>
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"Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,</div>
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Enwrought with golden and silver light,</div>
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The blue and the dim and the dark cloths</div>
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Of night and light and the half-light,</div>
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I would spread the cloths under your feet:</div>
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But I, being poor, have only my dreams;</div>
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I have spread my dreams under your feet;</div>
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Tread softly because you tread on my dreams."</div>
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It's not a very long poem, but some of the best poems are on the short side. It doesn't take an extreme amount of words to get the point and the feeling across, it just takes the right ones. And in keep with my theme of the whole "grave site visiting" thing, I would most definitely love to see his, as well as the part of Ireland where he lived/grew up! :D</div>
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A few of my other favorites are, <i style="font-weight: bold;">A Faery Song, Lullaby, </i>and <b><i>The Cap and Bells.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Do I have any fellow Yeats fanatics out there?! Or must I convert you? *mwahahaha....* :D</i></b></div>
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<i><b>“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.”</b></i></div>
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Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712175102320496174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022367929642329773.post-86729935985432173162013-04-23T00:00:00.000-07:002013-04-23T00:00:04.945-07:00Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Thought I'd Like MORE/LESS Than I Did<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly event hosted at <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>.</b></i></div>
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<b><i>This weeks topic: Top Ten Books I Thought I'd Like MORE/LESS Than I Did</i></b></div>
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<b><i>I'm going to split my list this week, these first five are the books I thought I'd like less but was pleasantly surprised by:</i></b></div>
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<i><b>1.</b> <b>Under the Never Sky</b> by Veronica Rossi</i><br />
<i><b>2. Dead of Night </b>by Jonathan Maberry</i><br />
<i><b>3. True Grit </b>by Charles Portis</i><br />
<i><b>4. Send Me a Sign</b> by Tiffany Schmidt</i><br />
<i><b>5. The Perks of Being a Wallflower</b> by Stephen Chbosky</i><br />
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<i><b>These next five are books I was really excited about but unfortunately fell short for me:</b></i><br />
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<i><b>6. When You Were Mine </b>by Rebecca Serle</i><br />
<i><b>7. Dearly, Beloved </b>by Lia Habel</i><br />
<i><b>8. Kissing Shakespeare </b>by Pamela Mingle</i><br />
<i><b>9. Insurgent </b>by Veronica Roth</i><br />
<i><b>10. Legend </b>by Marie Lu</i><br />
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<i><b>What's your Top Ten this week?</b></i><br />
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<b><i>Also I just want to mention that since non-Blogger members aren't able to follow through GFC anymore, I would really appreciate it if you'd consider following me through email subscription, RSS feed, or Bloglovin (I'm officially on there now!). I'd also just like to say thanks so much to everyone who follows already and to any new followers!</i></b></div>
Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712175102320496174noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022367929642329773.post-9525955713009158842013-04-22T00:00:00.000-07:002013-04-22T00:00:10.310-07:00Review: Sweet Shadows by Tera Lynn Childs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Title: </b>Sweet Shadows<br />
<b>Author:</b> Tera Lynn Childs<br />
<b>Publication Date:</b> September 4th, 2012<br />
<b>Genre: </b>YA Fantasy - Mythology - Paranormal<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"Gretchen may have known she was a descendant of Medusa long before her sisters--after all, she's spent her life fighting the monsters that escape the abyss--but that doesn't mean it will be easy to teach the other girls the ropes. Can she rely on Grace and Greer, or even trust herself to keep them safe?Greer has pressing social commitments on her plate and precious little time to train in her newfound powers. But that wretched second sight won't leave her alone, and her fabled heritage seems to be creeping into her fashionable life.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Grace has worries closer to home--like why her brother, Thane, has disappeared. He's hiding something. Could it possibly be related to the secret heritage the triplets share?</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">With the warring factions among the gods of Olympus coming for them, the creatures of the abyss pushing into their world, and the boys in their lives keeping secrets at every turn, the three girls must figure out where their fate will take them and how to embrace the shadows of their legacy." <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12025637-sweet-shadows">~See it on Goodreads!</a></span></blockquote>
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<br />I really loved <b><i>Sweet Venom</i></b>, which is the first book in this series. So naturally, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on <b><i>Sweet Shadows</i></b> (the second book) to see how the story would continue. And I’m glad to say I loved this one just as much of the first! I know sometimes with series I’ll have that whole <b><i>“second-book-syndrome”</i></b> thing, and you end up not liking the second book as much as the first, but I’m so glad to say that wasn’t an issue with this one! <br /><br />This book was definitely a little more intense than the first one, and the action starts right from the beginning. I really liked how you get to see the change and growth in the relationships between Gretchen, Grace, and Greer. They’re all still getting to know each other and trying adapt to the knowledge that they’re triplets and not to mention huntresses. And even though it’s all still new to them you can see how much they really care about each other, and would do anything to keep each other safe. <br /><br />In particular we really get to know Greer better in this book, she was introduced later than Gretchen and Grace in the first book so you didn’t get to learn as much about her then. We also learn more about Nick, he’s definitely grown on me more through this book, and we find out a big part he plays in the whole scheme of things. I’m still extremely curious about Grace’s brother Thane though! He doesn’t appear much in this book but when he does show up it just raises even more burning questions about him! <br /><br />There is a bit more focus on romance in this book, I won’t go into too many details for those who haven’t read either book yet. But I do like the pairings pretty well so far, and I’m interested to see what unfolds between two certain characters. <br /><br />The incorporation of Mythology in this book is just as seamless and balanced as it was in the first book, it doesn’t feel strange or misplaced at all. I was glued to the pages from the start and couldn’t stand to put it down when I had to go and do pesky things like work, or eat. I mean really who does those things anyways? <br /><br />Needless to say this book ended and left me with so many burning questions and had a bit of a cliffhanger as well, and now I’m likely to go a bit mad waiting for September 3rd to get her so I can get my hands on a copy of <b><i>Sweet Legacy</i></b>! <br /><br /><b><i>4.5 Stars!</i></b><br />
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Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712175102320496174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022367929642329773.post-47344546500114424732013-04-11T07:41:00.000-07:002013-04-11T07:41:51.359-07:00Shakespeare Month Read-A-Long: Macbeth! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So for the first week of <i><b>Shakespeare Month</b></i> my bestie, <i><b><a href="http://the-bookaholic.blogspot.com/">The Bookaholic</a></b></i> and I, started out with a read-a-long of <b><i>Macbeth</i></b>! We've just finished with that play and now we're going to be moving on to the next one on our list! But before we move on we just wanted to give a little feature on this play.</div>
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It's common knowledge that <b><i>Macbeth </i></b>is one of the darkest and most powerful of Shakespeare's tragedies. There is a lot of bases on the political and psychological aspects of the play. It's always been a favorite of mine and I've read it several times, and every time I read it it's always just as great as it was the first time I read it. The characters all really stand out and leave a lasting impression, combine that with a storyline that's full of discord, tragedy, and set in Scotland, and you're in for one awesome tale!</div>
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So I thought I would post some of my favorite quotes from the play for you to enjoy!</div>
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<i>"And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,</i></div>
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<i>The instruments of darkness tell us truths,</i></div>
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<i>Win us with honest trifles, to betray's</i></div>
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<i>In deepest consequence."</i></div>
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<i>"Your face, my thane, is as a book where men</i></div>
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<i>May read strange matters. To beguile the time,</i></div>
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<i>Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye,</i></div>
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<i>Your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower,</i></div>
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<i>But be the serpent under't."</i></div>
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<i>"She should have died hereafter;</i></div>
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<i>There would have been a time for such a word.</i></div>
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<i>To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,</i></div>
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<i>Creeps in this petty pace from day to day</i></div>
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<i>To the last syllable of recorded time,</i></div>
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<i>And all our yesterdays have lighted fools</i></div>
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<i>The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!</i></div>
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<i>Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player</i></div>
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<i>That struts and frets his hour upon the stage</i></div>
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<i>And then is heard no more: it is a tale</i></div>
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<i>Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,</i></div>
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<i>Signifying nothing."</i></div>
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Also I found this video, it's from the modernized version that came out in 2010 I believe. But the Porter in this video was just creeptastic so I had to share lol.</div>
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The next play we're going to be starting is <i style="font-weight: bold;">Much Ado! </i>I haven't read this one in years so I'm looking forward to picking it up again!!</div>
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Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712175102320496174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022367929642329773.post-51239087498665193972013-04-10T00:00:00.000-07:002013-04-10T00:00:09.799-07:00Wednesday's Poetry Watch #2<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i>This is a new feature I’ll be posting once a week, and in each post I’ll feature a different poet or poem that I really love. I’ll share a few facts about the poet and recommend an additional poem(s) that you may enjoy as well. Poetry has always been a HUGE passion of mine whether it’s writing it, reading it, or discussing it. And I’m really looking excited to share some of the mad love I have for it with all of you lovelies! </i></b></div>
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So for this weeks poetry watch, I decided to feature a poet that I've loved since childhood, <b><i>Robert Frost.</i></b> I fell in love with his writing after I got a book featuring one of his poems (<i style="font-weight: bold;">Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening</i>) as a Christmas gift and ever since then I've been a huge fan. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>A few facts for you: </i></b>"Robert Frost was born in San Francisco on March 26th, 1874. He moved to New England at the age of eleven and became interested in reading and writing poetry during his high school years in Lawrence, Massachusetts. He was enrolled at Dartmouth College in 1892, and later at Harvard, though he never earned a formal degree. Frost drifted through a string of occupations after leaving school, working as a teacher, cobbler, and editor of the Lawrence Sentinel. His first professional poem, "My Butterfly," was published on November 8th, 1894, in the New York newspaper The Independent. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In 1895, Frost married Elinor Miriam White, who became a major inspiration in his poetry until her death in 1938. The couple moved to England in 1912, after their New Hampshire farm failed, and it was abroad that Frost met and was influenced by such contemporary British poets as Edward Thomas, Rupert Brooke, and Robert Graves. While in England, Frost also established a friendship with the poet Ezra Pound, who helped to promote and publish his work. By the time Frost returned to the United States in 1915, he had published two full-length collections, A Boy's Will and North of Boston, and his reputation was established. By the nineteen-twenties, he was the most celebrated poet in America, and with each new book—including New Hampshire (1923), A Further Range (1936), Steeple Bush (1947), and In the Clearing (1962)—his fame and honors (including four Pulitzer Prizes) increased.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Frost was 86 when he read his well-known poem "The Gift Outright" at the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy on January 20th, 1961. He died in Boston two years later, on January 29th, 1963, of complications from prostate surgery. He was buried at the Old Bennington Cemetery in Bennington, Vermont. His epitaph quotes the last line from his poem, "The Lesson for Today (1942): "I had a lover's quarrel with the world."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="text-align: center;">One of my favorite poems by Robert Frost is <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Road Not Taken. </i>It's a pretty popular poem so I'm sure most of you have read it or at least heard of it. But for those who haven't, take a moment and see the brilliance of this piece.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"The Road Not Taken"</i></b></span></div>
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"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,</div>
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And sorry I could not travel both</div>
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And be one traveler, long I stood</div>
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And looked down one as far as I could</div>
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To where it bent in the undergrowth;</div>
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Then took the other, as just as fair,</div>
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And having perhaps the better claim</div>
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Because it was grassy and wanted wear,</div>
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Though as for that the passing there</div>
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Had worn them really about the same,</div>
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And both that morning equally lay</div>
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In leaves no step had trodden black.</div>
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Oh, I marked the first for another day!</div>
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Yet knowing how way leads on to way</div>
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I doubted if I should ever come back.</div>
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I shall be telling this with a sigh</div>
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Somewhere ages and ages hence:</div>
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Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,</div>
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I took the one less traveled by,</div>
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And that has made all the difference."</div>
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This poem is pretty self explanatory, so there's not really much need in trying to state what it means lol. His is another grave site I'd like to visit someday :) A few other poems I recommend reading are, <i style="font-weight: bold;">Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, Good Hours, </i>and <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Sound of Trees. </i>There are so many others I could recommend! But that would take all day lol. </div>
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<b><i>So do I have any Frost fans out there? Have you read any of his work?</i></b></div>
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<b><i>“Poetry is what gets lost in translation.”</i></b></div>
Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712175102320496174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022367929642329773.post-8729336934104630712013-04-09T06:29:00.002-07:002013-04-09T06:29:40.912-07:00Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Favorite Books I Read Before I Was A Blogger!<br />
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<i style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly event hosted at <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>.</b></i><br />
<b><i>This weeks topic: Top Ten Favorite Books I Read Before I Was A Blogger!</i></b><br />
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These lists seem to get harder every week! Even though I'm coming up on my 2 year blogoversary, I still have so many books to choose from because I've been a book addict since I learned how to read as a kid lol.<br />
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<b><i>1. The Harry Potter series ~ by J.K. Rowling</i></b><br />
There is no way I could make this list and not include this series, I basically grew up with these books and the characters in them. This series will always have a very special place in my heart and I will still continue to re-read them for years and years. And when I have kids one day, I <b style="font-style: italic;">WILL </b>introduce them to the brilliance that is <i><b>Harry Potter</b></i>!<br />
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<b><i>2. The Wicked Lovely series ~ by Melissa Marr</i></b><br />
This will forever be one of my favorite series! I absolutely adore Melissa Marr, she is one of my biggest writing inspirations and I could sit and get lost in her stories for days on end.<br />
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<b><i>3. Wuthering Heights ~ by Emily Bronte</i></b><br />
This is one of my absolute favorite classics, the writing is beautiful and haunting and I will never get tired of re-reading it!<br />
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<b><i>4. The Vampire Academy series ~ by Richelle Mead</i></b><br />
This is one of my most favorite vampire series out there! Rose is a totally kick-ass heroine, the complete opposite of Bella Swan from Twilight (sorry Twilight fans!), and if that isn't enough to convince you, I have two words... Adrian Ivashkov! Trust me, you''ll thank me later ;)<br />
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<b><i>5. Bones of Faerie ~ by Janni Lee Simner</i></b><br />
This is one of the most unique faerie books I've read, I love the combination of faerie lore and the dystopian/post apocalyptic world in this story.<br />
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<b><i>6. The Chaos Walking trilogy ~ by Patrick Ness</i></b><br />
This is another great dystopian/post apocalyptic trilogy! I really don't think these books get enough love, they are <i style="font-weight: bold;">SO GOOD!</i> And for those of you that haven't read them, you're really missing out!<br />
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<b><i>7. The Lovely Bones ~ by Alice Sebold</i></b><br />
Oh this book! It really left a lasting impression on me and the imagery.. brilliant! This is one book I went into reading with certain expectations and they were beyond met.<br />
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<b><i>8. The Lord of the Rings trilogy ~ by J.R.R. Tolkien</i></b><br />
All I have to say about this is, if you haven't experienced the brilliance that is <i style="font-weight: bold;">LOTR</i>.... you have been sorely deprived!!<br />
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<b><i>9. The Bone series ~ by Jeff Smith </i></b><br />
I don't really mention graphic novels much here on the blog, but I do actually like them a lot. And this series is one of my favorites, it has that fantasy feel to it and a bit of humor thrown in as well. Definitely worth the read!<br />
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<b><i>10. Stardust ~ by Neil Gaiman </i></b><br />
I adore all things by Neil Gaiman, and this is no exception. I actually just finished re-reading this particular book last month as part of a read-a-long with two of my favorite blogger friends, <a href="http://the-bookaholic.blogspot.com/">Pixie </a>and <a href="http://paper-fantasies.blogspot.com/">Kelly </a>(who hadn't ever read the book!) it just reminded my why I love this book and author as much as I do!<br />
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<b><i>What's your Top Ten this week?</i></b><br />
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<b><i>Also I just want to mention that since non-Blogger members aren't able to follow through GFC anymore, I would really appreciate it if you'd consider following me through email subscription, RSS feed, or Bloglovin (I'm officially on there now!). I'd also just like to say thanks so much to everyone who follows already and to any new followers!</i></b></div>
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Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712175102320496174noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022367929642329773.post-50121926656622914132013-04-05T00:00:00.000-07:002013-04-05T06:41:38.616-07:00Follow Friday #59<br />
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<i><b>Follow Friday is hosted by the lovely <a href="http://www.parajunkee.com/">Parajunkee’s View</a> and Alison at <a href="http://www.alisoncanread.com/">Alison Can Read</a> If you'd like to participate, it's easy. To learn more and get started, go check out: <a href="http://www.parajunkee.com/">Parajunkee</a> and <a href="http://www.alisoncanread.com/">Alison Can Read</a>. Join the fun and make some new friends!</b></i><br />
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<i><b>Q: </b>Have you ever read a book that you thought you would hate -- ? Did you end up hating it? Did you end up loving it? Or would you never do that?</i></blockquote>
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<b style="font-style: italic;">A: </b>I generally don't read books that I think I'm gonna hate, I'd prefer to spend my time reading something I know, or at least think I'm going to like if not love. There have been times when I've started a book I thought I would like but ended up being disappointed with, but I haven't ever gone into reading a book thinking that I wouldn't like it but reading it anyways lol.<br />
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<b><i>Have a great weekend and happy reading lovelies!</i></b><br />
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<b><i>Also I just want to mention that since non-Blogger members aren't able to follow through GFC anymore, I would really appreciate it if you'd consider following me through email subscription, RSS feed, or Bloglovin (I'm officially on there now!). I'd also just like to say thanks so much to everyone who follows already and to any new followers!</i></b></div>
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Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712175102320496174noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022367929642329773.post-28756401814698564132013-04-04T13:10:00.000-07:002013-04-04T13:12:00.225-07:00Review: Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Title: </b>Shadowfell<br />
<b>Author:</b> Juliet Marillier<br />
<b>Publication Date: </b>September 11th, 2012<br />
<b>Genre:</b> YA - Fantasy - High Fantasy<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"Sixteen-year-old Neryn is alone in the land of Alban, where the oppressive king has ordered anyone with magical strengths captured and brought before him. Eager to hide her own canny skill--a uniquely powerful ability to communicate with the fairy-like Good Folk--Neryn sets out for the legendary Shadowfell, a home and training ground for a secret rebel group determined to overthrow the evil King Keldec.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">During her dangerous journey, she receives aid from the Good Folk, who tell her she must pass a series of tests in order to recognize her full potential. She also finds help from a handsome young man, Flint, who rescues her from certain death--but whose motives in doing so remain unclear. Neryn struggles to trust her only allies. They both hint that she alone may be the key to Alban's release from Keldec's rule. Homeless, unsure of who to trust, and trapped in an empire determined to crush her, Neryn must make it to Shadowfell not only to save herself, but to save Alban." <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8452340-shadowfell">~See it on Goodreads!</a></span></blockquote>
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I was immediately intrigued when I read the blurb for <b><i>Shadowfell</i></b>, I’ve been wanting a good fantasy to lose myself in recently and this was the perfect one to read. Also, I’m slightly ashamed to say that this is the first book I’ve read by <b><i>Juliet Marillier</i></b>.... I know it’s unthinkable right? Especially being the fan of Fantasy novels that I am. But I assure you that will be 100% remedied from this point on.<br />
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I really loved the world building in this book; it’s very unique and draws you into this wonderful fantasy world of Alban. The writing itself is beautiful and has the perfect balance of magic and mysticism, which is all too fitting for these types of Fantasy novels. And I loved the addition of the <b><i>“Good Folk”</i></b> in this story particularly, I liked the fact that the author took pieces from Myth and Lore and crafted them into her story in a way that stands out from the rest. <br />
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The characters were all very well developed; they all stand out in their own ways and have unique voices. For the most part I liked Neryn, she’s resilient, kind, and has certain strength to her. But at the same time I felt like her personality lacked a bit of that spark/spunkiness that I like to see in my heroines, she also didn’t really have any flaws so at times she felt a little too hopeful and kind to be true. For me personally, I like to see the characters grow and change over the course of a story and towards the end I saw the beginning of some possible growth in Neryn, so I’m hopeful that in the next installment we’ll uncover more layers and a new depth to her character. <br />
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There were a few areas in the book where the plot got a little bogged down, and seemed to drag slightly. I know there are readers out there that have a hard time getting through books with slower pacing in some areas, if you’re one of those people that may be a problem for you with this book. For me personally it’s not such a big issue because I love this genre, and I can overlook a little slowness if the other elements are all on point. But I felt I should mention it because I know some people don’t like the slower pace. <br />
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Overall I really did enjoy <b><i>Shadowfell </i></b>and I’m looking forward to getting my hands on the next book in the series,<b><i> come on July 9th!</i></b> And I’m also excited to start reading more of this lovely authors work! <br />
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<b><i>4 Stars! </i></b><br />
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<b><i>“You don't like it that I am the one you need to keep the wolf from the door; that comes as no surprise. But I am the one you have. At some point we'll both have to risk telling the truth.” ~Shadowfell</i></b></div>
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Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712175102320496174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022367929642329773.post-90254004437002547812013-04-03T00:00:00.000-07:002013-04-02T21:06:48.047-07:00Wednesdays Poetry Watch #1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i>This is a new feature I’ll be posting once a week, and in each post I’ll feature a different poet or poem that I really love. I’ll share a few facts about the poet and recommend an additional poem(s) that you may enjoy as well. Poetry has always been a HUGE passion of mine whether it’s writing it, reading it, or discussing it. And I’m really looking excited to share some of the mad love I have for it with all of you lovelies! </i></b></div>
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So this week to kick of my new feature, who better to start with than the brilliant Edgar Allan Poe himself?! Anyone who knows me well enough is perfectly aware of how much I love this particular poet/author, so it’s only fitting to start off with him. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>A few facts for you:</i></b> “Edgar Allan Poe was born on January 19th, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts. His mother died shortly after his father abandoned their family, and he was taken in by John and Frances Allan, of Richmond, Virginia, but they never formally adopted him. He attended the University of Virginia for one semester but left due to lack of money. After enlisting in the Army and later failing as an officer's cadet at West Point, Poe parted ways with the Allans. His publishing career began humbly, with an anonymous collection of poems, Tamerlane and Other Poems (1827), credited only to "a Bostonian".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Poe switched his focus to prose and spent the next several years working for literary journals and periodicals, becoming known for his own style of literary criticism. His work forced him to move among several cities, including Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City. In Baltimore in 1835, he married Virginia Clemm. In January, 1845 Poe published his poem, "The Raven", to instant success. His wife died of tuberculosis two years after its publication. He began planning to produce his own journal, The Penn (later renamed The Stylus), though he died before it could be produced. On October 7, 1849, at age 40, Poe died in Baltimore; the cause of his death is unknown and has been variously attributed to alcohol, brain congestion, cholera, drugs, heart disease, rabies, suicide, tuberculosis, and other agents.” ~Via Wikipedia</span></div>
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One of my favorite poems of all time would have to be <i><b>“A Dream Within A Dream”</b></i> now I’m sure some of you have read it, but I’m sure there are some of you that haven’t. If you are one of those poor unfortunate souls who haven’t read it, take a few minutes to delve into this masterpiece. </div>
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(Lol couldn't resist :p)</div>
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<b><i>"A Dream Within A Dream" </i></b></div>
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“Take this kiss upon the brow! </div>
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And, in parting from you now, </div>
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Thus much let me avow- </div>
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You are not wrong, who deem </div>
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That my days have been a dream; </div>
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Yet if hope has flown away </div>
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In a night, or in a day, </div>
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In a vision, or in none, </div>
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Is it therefore the less gone? </div>
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All that we see or seem </div>
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Is but a dream within a dream. </div>
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I stand amid the roar </div>
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Of a surf-tormented shore, </div>
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And I hold within my hand </div>
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Grains of the golden sand- </div>
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How few! yet how they creep </div>
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Through my fingers to the deep, </div>
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While I weep- while I weep! </div>
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O God! Can I not grasp </div>
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Them with a tighter clasp? </div>
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O God! Can I not save </div>
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One from the pitiless wave? </div>
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Is all that we see or seem </div>
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But a dream within a dream?” </div>
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The main thing this poem always puts me in mind of, is how in life there are things that will change and no matter how much we may not want them to, and there isn’t anything that can be done to stop it. And I’m sure all of us at some point have had the same or similar thoughts about certain things that have happened in our lives. </div>
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Also on another note, I have decided that I <b><i>WILL</i></b> visit Poe’s grave site in Baltimore one day just to say that I’ve been lol. Now if you’re interested in more of Poe’s work a few that I recommend are: <i><b>“The Raven”</b></i>, <b><i>“Annabel Lee”</i></b>, and "<b><i>The Masque of the Red Death" </i></b>(a short story). </div>
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<i><b>So are any of you lovelies fans of Poe? Do you have any favorite poems or stories? </b></i></div>
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<b><b><i>"I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity."</i></b></b></div>
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Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712175102320496174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022367929642329773.post-11483025212484662942013-04-02T00:00:00.000-07:002013-04-02T01:49:26.311-07:00Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Characters I Would Crush On If I Were Also A Fictional Character <br />
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<i style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly event hosted at <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>.</b></i></div>
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<strong><em>This weeks topic: </em></strong><b><i>Top Ten Characters I Would Crush On If I Were Also A Fictional Character!</i></b><br />
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<b><i>Okay this topic is just an epic freaking <i>WIN! </i>Who doesn't love gushing about their favorite book boyfriends?! Forgive me in advance if I start rambling incessantly, but I'll try to keep it to a minimum :p</i></b></div>
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<b><i><u>1. Adrian Ivashkov ~ from the Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series</u></i></b></div>
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He is the epitome of swoon-worthy! Then add in the snarky/sarcastic personality, with the bad boy swag and that sweet vulnerable side and you have one damn near perfect match! I could go on for days about how much I freaking love his character! <3 And if you aren't aware of who he is... you have no idea what you're missing and you really need to remedy that immediately!</div>
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<b><i><u>2. Irial and Niall ~ from the Wicked Lovely series</u></i></b></div>
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I know I cheated on this one by mentioning two characters, but if you've read the series you understand the difficulty of choosing between the two! <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Irial</u> may have a bit more of my hear than <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Niall</u> does though, there is just something about him.. that bad boy, conflicted, sexiness... Love it lol. There is actually a third from this series I could mention but.. I'll hold off... *cough* Seth *cough cough*</div>
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<b><i><u>3. Akiva ~ from the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series</u></i></b></div>
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One of the hottest and swoon-worthy fallen angels out there! If you haven't had the pleasure of encountering this character, you must do so with haste!</div>
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<b><i><u>4. Ash ~ from The Iron Fey series</u></i></b></div>
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I loved him from beginning to end in this series, something about his personality just grabbed me and refused to let go! Not that I minded of course :p And while I am <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Team Ash</u>, <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Puck</u> was another big favorite from this series and will always have a special place in my affections.</div>
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<b><i><u>5. Étienne St. Clair ~ from Anna and the French Kiss</u></i></b></div>
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Oh my, to put it simply I adored <b><i><u>Étienne</u></i></b>! He's not perfect by any means, but he's charming and he's got that thing that just makes you swoon and you find yourself drawn to him anyways.</div>
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<b><i><u>6. Noah ~ from Pushing the Limits</u></i></b></div>
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Now <b><i><u>Noah </u></i></b>is definitely what you would classify as a “bad boy”, but honestly who doesn’t like that?? Lol. But that said, underneath his "bad boy" appearance he was such an endearing, and kindhearted person and he will forever be a favorite of mine.</div>
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<b><i><u> 7. Perry and Roar ~ from Under the Never Sky</u></i></b></div>
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Oh <b><u><i>Perry</i></u></b>, he's such a sweet, noble, and handsome character! Loved everything about him! Then there's <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Roar,</u> first of all you know it's gonna be an interesting person with a name like that! He's wild and fun, and not to mention <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">HOT!</u> You definitely want to check these two out.</div>
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<b><i><u>8. Peeta ~ from The Hunger Games</u></i></b></div>
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<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Team Peeta</u> all the way!!! Honestly, what's not to love about him?!</div>
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<b><i><u>9. Cricket Bell ~ from Lola and the Boy Next Door</u></i></b></div>
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For me to mention two books by Stephanie Perkins in one post must mean she's doing something right, huh? lol. <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Cricket</u> is such a perfectly flawed, utterly adorable, and caring character. I couldn't get enough of him!</div>
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<b><i><u>10. Tuck ~ from Valkyrie Rising</u></i></b></div>
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To say I adored <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Tuck</u> would be an understatement! He was incredibly charming and sweet, with a pinch of snark mixed in. Not to mention the to-die-for good looks, he's definitely a favorite.</div>
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<b><i>What's your Top Ten this week?</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Also I just want to mention that since non-Blogger members aren't able to follow through GFC anymore, I would really appreciate it if you'd consider following me through email subscription, RSS feed, or Bloglovin (I'm officially on there now!). I'd also just like to say thanks so much to everyone who follows already and to any new followers!</i></b></div>
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Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712175102320496174noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022367929642329773.post-82217990736202646412013-03-29T04:50:00.002-07:002013-03-29T04:50:46.076-07:00Follow Friday #58<br />
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<i><b>Follow Friday is hosted by the lovely <a href="http://www.parajunkee.com/">Parajunkee’s View</a> and Alison at <a href="http://www.alisoncanread.com/">Alison Can Read</a> If you'd like to participate, it's easy. To learn more and get started, go check out: <a href="http://www.parajunkee.com/">Parajunkee</a> and <a href="http://www.alisoncanread.com/">Alison Can Read</a>. Join the fun and make some new friends!</b></i></div>
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<i>Q: Tell us about the most emotional scene you’ve ever read in a book – and how did you react?</i></blockquote>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">A: </i>Oh geez, anyone who knows me is very aware of how much of a sap I am lol. The first few scenes from books that come to mind are:</div>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">The Fault in Our Stars ~</i> The funeral scene near the end *sigh* I don't want to give spoilers for those who haven't read it (which by the way if you are one of those people, you simply must read it. Now.) but that scene really stuck with me and needless to say I was a mess afterward. There are several other scenes in this book that were very emotional, but that one I think stayed with me the most.</div>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">Marley and Me, & Where the Red Fern Grows ~ </i>These two books had me completely in tears by the end of both of these books. I'm a huge animal lover so these two just tore me to pieces.</div>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">Snow Flower and the Secret Fan ~ </i>This whole book had me completely beside myself with emotion, I mean honestly I was <i style="font-weight: bold;">A MESS! </i>I don't want to spoil it i you haven't read it, but it's just heart wrenching .</div>
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Also: <b style="font-style: italic;">The Book Thief </b>is another one but I won't get into that lol.</div>
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And yes I know I totally cheated and mentioned more than one, but as you all know by now I never can restrict myself to these limitations when it comes to books! Lol</div>
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<b><i>Have a great weekend and happy reading lovelies!</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Also I just want to mention that since non-Blogger members aren't able to follow through GFC anymore, I would really appreciate it if you'd consider following me through email subscription, RSS feed, or Google Reader (while it's still available). I'd also just like to say thanks so much to everyone who follows already and to any new followers!</i></b></div>
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Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712175102320496174noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022367929642329773.post-45570246767645295462013-03-28T06:42:00.001-07:002013-03-28T06:43:23.183-07:00ARC Review: Stung by Bethany Wiggins<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Title:</b> Stung<br />
<b>Author:</b> Bethany Wiggins<br />
<b>Publication Date:</b> April 2nd, 2013<br />
<b>Genre:</b> YA - Post Apocalyptic - Sci-Fi - Dystopian<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"There is no cure for being stung.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Fiona doesn’t remember going to sleep. But when she opens her eyes, she discovers her entire world has been altered—her house is abandoned and broken, and the entire neighborhood is barren and dead. Even stranger is the tattoo on her right hand—a black oval with five marks on either side—that she doesn’t remember getting but somehow knows she must cover at any cost. She’s right.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Those bearing the tattoo have turned into mindless, violent beasts that roam the streets and sewers, preying upon the unbranded while a select few live protected inside a fortress-like wall, their lives devoted to rebuilding society and killing all who bear the mark.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Now Fiona has awakened branded, alone—and on the wrong side of the wall." <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13517444-stung">~See it on Goodreads!</a></span></blockquote>
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<b><i>Stung </i></b>was definitely one of the most interesting and unique story concepts that I've come across so far this year. It was action packed and really sucked me in from the beginning. <br />
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In the world of <b><i>Stung </i></b>bees as we know them have gone extinct, and scientists have replaced them with a new genetically created species of bees. But while they were creating these new bees something went wrong (one of the risks when you start experimenting with things lol) and when the bees sting someone that person is infected with a deathly virus. So naturally the scientists start working towards a cure for the “Bee Flu” as it’s called, but unfortunately that doesn’t go as planned either. The so called cure that they developed has some pretty narly side effects, and the patients they give it to end up becoming wild, zombie-esque creatures, so it’s no surprise that chaos breaks lose soon after. Fiona wakes up after being in a coma, and nothing is the same for her. She’s alone and confused, with no memory as to how or why she was asleep in the first place. <br />
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There is a bit of romance in this story but suffice it to say I wasn’t very invested in it. I just felt like it was a little rushed and I’m sooo not a fan of the whole insta-love thing so that kind of put me off. I did wish there had been a little more to the world building and details in some areas, because I felt like there were some things that were only vaguely mentioned and I would have liked to see more information there. <br />
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Despite a few qualms, overall I did enjoy this one quite a bit. It kept my attention throughout and I never got bored with it. I thought the ending played out nicely but still left room for a possible sequel, which I would like to see because I’m interested to see what would come next. <br />
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<b><i>3.5 Stars!</i></b><br />
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Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712175102320496174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022367929642329773.post-50796921004054375552013-03-26T05:24:00.002-07:002013-03-26T06:44:37.896-07:00Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Recommend the Most!<br />
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<i style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly event hosted at <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>.</b></i></div>
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<strong><em>This weeks topic: </em></strong><i><b>Top Ten Books I Recommend the Most!</b></i></div>
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This is probably one of my favorite topics so far! I have so many favorite books/series but there are always those certain ones that I constantly recommend. I cheated a bit by listing some series on here :p Now these aren't in any particular order, mind you:</div>
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<i><b><u>1. The Fault in Our Stars ~ by John Green</u></b></i></div>
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If you haven't read this, you simply must! It's a wonderfully emotional ride and brilliantly written. Also one of the sweetest romances <i><b>EVER</b></i>!</div>
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<b><i>2. <u>The Vampire Academy Series ~ by Richelle Mead</u></i></b></div>
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This will forever be a favorite of mine. I know some people tire of the endless supply of vampire books, but there is one simple reason that this series is on you should make an exception for. And I can explain that in two simple words... <b><i>Adrian </i></b><i><b>Ivashkov!</b></i></div>
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<b><i><u>3. The Iron Fey Series ~ by Julie Kagawa</u></i></b></div>
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This is one of my favorite Faerie based series, swoon worth characters, wonderful faerie lore, and an original storyline, what more could we ask for?? lol. If you're a lover of the Fae and haven't read this, I do believe it's high time you did.</div>
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<b><i><u>4. Anna and the French Kiss AND Lola and the Boy Next Door ~ by Stephanie Perkins</u></i></b></div>
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Yes I cheated by mentioning two books here, but they're both such cute and fun reads! If you're a fan of contemporary or even if you aren't these are great books if you want something light, fun, and sweet!</div>
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<b><u><i>5. The Book Thief ~ by Markus Zusak</i></u></b></div>
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This book is amazing, and should be on everyones TBR lists! </div>
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<b><i><u>6. Daughter of Smoke and Bone ~ by Laini Taylor</u></i></b></div>
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If you haven't read this... you <i style="font-weight: bold;">SO </i>don't even know what you're missing!! I can't even explain ho good this is, and luckily for those who haven't read it yet, if you read it now you don't have to wait on the second book to come out!</div>
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<b><i><u>7. The Luxe Series ~ by Anna Godbersen</u></i></b></div>
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I'm a huge fan of historical fiction, and especially love the Victorian time period. If you're a fan of that as well you absolutely have to read these book!! Scandal, secrets, and romance, all set against a wonderful Victorian backdrop.... <i><b>YES PLEASE!</b></i></div>
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<b><i><u>8. The Delirium Series ~ by Lauren Oliver</u></i></b></div>
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A new favorite Dystopian series and a must read in my opinion! </div>
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<b><i><u>9. Splintered ~ by A.G. Howard</u></i></b></div>
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I adore Alice in Wonderland and when I came across this book and saw that it was a re-telling, of course I had to read it! And I loved every single bit of it! It's based more on the original story of how Lewis Carroll was inspired to write Alice in Wonderland, but that gave it a unique edge.</div>
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<b><i><u>10. The Leviathan Series ~ by Scott Westerfeld </u></i></b></div>
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If I had to describe this in two words, they would have to be: Steampunk Brilliance! Honestly, everyone may not be interested in this type of book, but if you even remotely think you may like it.. then definitely <b><i>READ IT!</i></b></div>
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<b><i>What's your Top Ten this week?</i></b></div>
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Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712175102320496174noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022367929642329773.post-76731155326896921602013-03-22T08:43:00.003-07:002013-03-22T08:45:38.176-07:00Follow Friday #57<br />
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<i><b>Follow Friday is hosted by the lovely <a href="http://www.parajunkee.com/">Parajunkee’s View</a> and Alison at <a href="http://www.alisoncanread.com/">Alison Can Read</a> If you'd like to participate, it's easy. To learn more and get started, go check out: <a href="http://www.parajunkee.com/">Parajunkee</a> and <a href="http://www.alisoncanread.com/">Alison Can Read</a>. Join the fun and make some new friends!</b></i></div>
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<b><i>Q: What is your guilty pleasure as far as reading? Is it a genre, or is it a certain type of book?</i></b></blockquote>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">A: </i>As soon as I saw this question I knew what my answer was immediately. Faeries, hands down! I've been completely obsessed with them for as long as I can remember and I don't see that ever changing lol. It's very rare for me to pass on a book that's about Faeries, whether it's YA, Adult, or just a book on Myths/Folklore. If there are Faeries in it, I'll most likely read it if I haven't already lol.</div>
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<i><b>Have a wonderful weekend and happy reading lovelies! </b></i></div>
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<b><i>Also I just want to mention that since non-Blogger members aren't able to follow through GFC anymore, I would really appreciate it if you'd consider following me through email subscription, RSS feed, or Google Reader (while it's still available). I'd also just like to say thanks so much to everyone who follows already and to any new followers!</i></b></div>
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Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712175102320496174noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022367929642329773.post-73767436945551656372013-03-19T04:59:00.001-07:002013-03-19T04:59:28.816-07:00Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I HAD to Buy...But are Still Sitting on My Shelf Unread<br />
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<i style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly event hosted at <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>.</b></i></div>
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<strong><em>This weeks topic: </em></strong><i><b>Top Ten Books I HAD to Buy...But are Still Sitting on My Shelf Unread</b></i><br />
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To be quite honest there are several of these that I'm ashamed to not have read yet *head desk* somehow they just got pushed aside in the rotation and I still haven't gotten back to them. I most definitely need to remedy that!</div>
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1. The Great Gatsby ~ by Scott F. Fitzgerald</div>
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2. Dark Lover ~ by J.R. Ward</div>
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3. Under the Dome ~ by Stephen King</div>
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4. Anansi Boys ~ by Neil Gaiman</div>
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5. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making ~ by Catherynne M. Valente</div>
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6. Eve ~ by Anna Carey</div>
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7. Hourglass ~ by Myra McEntire </div>
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8. Ruby Red ~ by Kerstin Gier</div>
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9. Half-Blood ~ by Jennifer L. Armentrout</div>
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10. Everblue ~ by Brenda Pandos</div>
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<i><b>What are your Top Ten picks this week?</b></i></div>
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Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712175102320496174noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022367929642329773.post-85446943667474080942013-03-13T19:41:00.000-07:002013-03-13T19:41:16.868-07:00Review: Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys <div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Title:</b> Out of the Easy<br />
<b>Author:</b> Ruta Sepetys<br />
<b>Publication Date:</b> February 12th, 2013<br />
<b>Genre: </b>YA - Historical Fiction - Mystery<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny." <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11178225-out-of-the-easy">~See it on Goodreads</a></span></blockquote>
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When I first came across the blurb for <b><i>Out of the Easy</i></b> I was instantly intrigued, I mean 1950’s New Orleans? Uh, definitely my style! So I was pretty excited to start reading this one. And overall I really enjoyed this book.<br />
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One thing that I love and plays a big part in how much I like a book would be the characters. If a book has really dull “mary jane” type characters, that are poorly developed and just lacking in overall appeal, I’m most likely not going to be a big fan of it. But in this book, I fell in love with the characters from the get go. They were all so unique and different , and all stood out in their own way. I <i><b>ADORED </b></i>Josie and Willie! They immediately went on my list of favorite characters! And Cokie was another big favorite! Now, there are two love interests in this book (Patrick and Jesse), but I really didn’t get the feeling that it was a “love triangle”. Yes, they’re both after Josie’s attention but not necessarily in the same way or for the same reason. But I did actually really like both of their characters as well, although, I did feel like Jesse could have used a bit more development. <br />
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Overall the writing was good, and the style of it was interesting. But there were times when I did wish that there had been a bit more of the essence of New Orleans captured in it, because for the story to have been set in such a unique place I think the writing/descriptions seemed a little too plain in some areas. I also felt that the story didn’t have a really strong/clear focus, so that might be an issue for some people and it was a bit of a nitpick for me. <br />
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As much as I love a god romance I thought it was a nice change to see that the main focus of this book wasn’t the romance element, because yes it is there but the story is more geared towards the mystery. Now, that being said I did feel like the mystery wasn’t very… mysterious or shocking. It was still interesting but I have to admit it was slightly predictable at the same time, and I figured out who the culprit was fairly early on so it wasn’t really surprising when it came to the point in the story. <br />
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There was one part of the story I didn’t really see coming, although maybe looking back I would see the signs now. I was extremely shocked by it because I wasn’t expecting it, and I <b><i>bawled </i></b>uncontrollably at the end because of it. And when I say <b><i>bawled</i></b>, I mean that whole <b><i>ugly-face-sobbing ordeal</i></b>…<br />
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It definitely wasn’t pretty and I went through quite a few tissues....<br />
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So overall I really enjoyed this book, the characters were probably my favorite thing about it. If you’re a big fan of amazing, and strong characters then you’d enjoy this book. But if you’re looking for a real gut wrenching mystery that will keep you on the very edge of your seat and turning pages at a breakneck speed, this book doesn’t really fit that expectation. <br />
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<b><i>3.5 Stars! </i></b><br />
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Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712175102320496174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022367929642329773.post-34437093030925486472013-03-12T00:00:00.000-07:002013-03-12T00:00:03.581-07:00Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books At the TOP of my Spring 2013 TBR List!<br />
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<i style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly event hosted at <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>.</b></i></div>
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<strong><em>This weeks topic: Top Ten Books At the TOP of my Spring 2013 TBR List!</em></strong><br />
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Okay here we go, these are in no particular order and some of them were published before Spring of this year but that's when I'm planning to read them:<br />
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1. The Art of Wishing ~ by Lindsay Ribar<br />
2. The Archived ~ by Victoria Schwab<br />
3. Sins and Needles ~ by Karina Halle<br />
4.Sweet Shadows ~ by Tera Lynn Childs<br />
5. Code Name Verity ~ by Elizabeth Wein<br />
6. Keeping the Castle ~ by Patrice Kindl<br />
7. Such a Rush ~ by Jennifer Echols<br />
8. Infatuate ~ by Aimee Agresti<br />
9. Clockwork Prince ~ by Cassandra Clare<br />
10. The Eternity Cure ~ by Julie Kagawa<br />
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<b><i>What's your top ten this week?</i></b><br />
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Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712175102320496174noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022367929642329773.post-1544693547986664192013-03-08T13:42:00.001-08:002013-03-08T13:42:47.781-08:00Review: Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Title:</b> Touch of Power<br />
<b>Author: </b>Maria V. Snyder<br />
<b>Publication Date:</b> December 20th, 2011<br />
<b>Genre:</b> YA Fantasy<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>"Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan assumes their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Territories, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.</i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life...." <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10445208-touch-of-power">~See it on Goodreads</a></i></span></blockquote>
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The first thought I had when I got finished reading <i><b>Touch of Power</b></i> was, what the heck took me so long to read this?! I mean honestly, there’s really no excuse for it. I’d been wanting to read it ever since it came out and after I kept seeing such great reviews on it, but for some crazy reason it took me forever to get around to it and I could kick myself for taking so long!<br /><br />I was completely enthralled by the pure brilliance of this book. It’s no secret that I’m a <i><b>huge </b></i>fan of epic fantasy and this book didn’t let me down in the least. I loved the world that <i><b>Ms. Snyder</b></i> created, it’s unique and unlike any that I’ve read about. The writing was extremely well done and the plot twists keep you on the edge of your seat and your eyes glued to the page. The attention to detail is impeccable and I loved how she took Lilies and made them into something not only gorgeous but deadly. <br /><br />The characterization was amazing and there was a roller coaster of emotions, and I became extremely attached to the characters. I absolutely <b><i>adored </i></b>Avry! She made her way onto my list of favorite heroines almost instantly, and Poppa Bear was another big favorite! Over the course of reading this book I laughed, I cried (more than once), and at times just sat there utterly entranced. But that just goes to show you how good it really was. <br /><br />I guess one good thing that came of me waiting so long to read this is that I didn’t have to wait a long time to get my hands on the second book, <b><i>Scent of Magic</i></b>! Which, by the way, I cant wait to start! And now I’m determined to read as much of <b style="font-style: italic;">Ms. Snyders </b>other work as I possibly can! <br /><br />Highly recommend this one! <br /><br /><b><i>5 Stars!</i></b><div>
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Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712175102320496174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022367929642329773.post-19645232410316571492013-03-05T09:02:00.002-08:002013-03-05T09:02:50.940-08:00Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Series I Want to Start, but Haven't Yet<br />
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<i style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></i>
<i style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly event hosted at <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>.</b></i></div>
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<strong><em>This weeks topic: Top Ten Series I Want to Start, but Haven't Yet</em></strong><br />
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I've got several series I've really been wanting to start reading but just haven't gotten around to yet, but I most definitely will be in the future! Lol.<br />
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1. The Grisha Series ~ by Leigh Bardugo<br />
2. The Lost Souls Series ~ by Tiffany Truitt<br />
3. Sevenwaters Series ~ by Juliet Marillier<br />
4. Shatter Me Series ~ by Tahereh Mafi<br />
5. Masque of the Red Death Series ~ by Bethany Griffin<br />
6. Never Series ~ by Lesley Livingston<br />
7. His Fair Assassin Series ~ by Robin LaFevers<br />
8. Dust Lands Series ~ by Moira Young<br />
9. Poison Study Series ~ by Maria V. Snyder<br />
10. Hourglass Series ~ by Myra McEntire<br />
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<b><i>What's your top ten this week?</i></b><br />
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Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712175102320496174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022367929642329773.post-37118139348192343352013-02-21T00:00:00.000-08:002013-02-21T00:00:09.220-08:00The Nightmare Affair Blog Tour! Review + Giveaway!<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40VUI42Utgri-0nwR4Enmvwqo5EkVVWRpRgYQfiwRo7EALpTvJPIljcyLZ8sDl6kUpDwQ5d4JiHtxX_Fw1vIQq2ZFBsajzdGjuUFezYh5nHdmIP5pfeP1hNG0UrXbVMxKTM1ExGg1nxY/s1600/12411635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40VUI42Utgri-0nwR4Enmvwqo5EkVVWRpRgYQfiwRo7EALpTvJPIljcyLZ8sDl6kUpDwQ5d4JiHtxX_Fw1vIQq2ZFBsajzdGjuUFezYh5nHdmIP5pfeP1hNG0UrXbVMxKTM1ExGg1nxY/s320/12411635.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> The Nightmare Affair<br />
<b>Author:</b> Mindee Arnett<br />
<b>Publication Date:</b> March 5th, 2103<br />
<b>Genre:</b> YA - Paranormal - Fantasy<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>"Sixteen-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she’s a criminal. No, she’s a Nightmare.</i><i><br /></i><i>Literally.</i><i><br /></i><i>Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother’s infamy, is hard enough. But when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker’s house, things get a whole lot more complicated. He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn’t get much more embarrassing. But it does. Eli is dreaming of a murder.</i><i><br /></i><i>Then Eli’s dream comes true.</i><i><br /></i><i>Now Dusty has to follow the clues—both within Eli’s dreams and out of them—to stop the killer before more people turn up dead. And before the killer learns what she’s up to and marks her as the next target." <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12411635-the-nightmare-affair">~See it on Goodreads</a></i></span></blockquote>
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<b><i>My Thoughts..</i></b></div>
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Well I was lucky enough to be able to participate in the blog tour for <b><i>The Nightmare Affair </i></b>and receive an e-arc of the book for review. When I first read the blurb I was really intrigued by the storyline, so I was looking forward to reading this. </div>
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I was also really interested by the whole concept of Nightmares and all of the other supernatural beings that are present in this story. Some of which we’re already familiar with but the author added a little bit of a twist to them and made them her own, which I thought was a nice addition. So I definitely give it some points for being unique. <br />
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I really liked Dusty’s character! She’s spunky and witty, and some of my favorite parts in the book were her responses to things. She is a tad bit naïve at times but I think that gives her a more relatable feeling because everyone has been slightly naïve at some point. Also, the scenes between her Dusty and Eli were awkward in the best possible way, which definitely makes for entertaining reading. As far as the characters go as a whole, I do wish some of the other characters had been a bit more developed because I would have liked to know more about them. But we do still have time for that in the rest of the series, so that wasn’t a huge issue for me. <br />
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There is a bit of romance in this one, and a slight love triangle. I know, I know, for a lot of readers when you see those words they have that whole <b><i>“dun dun dun..”</i></b> effect lol. Overall I didn’t think it was horrible to have the love triangle but at the same time it would’ve been okay without it. But that may just be my opinion, and it was resolved fairly well by the end of the book. <br />
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There were a few areas that were slightly predictable and times when the storyline moved along a bit slowly, but overall I enjoyed the story and the characters. It may not have wowed me as much as I was hoping but it was still a fun and entertaining read, with an interesting take on the paranormal creatures that we know and love. <br />
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<b><i>3 Stars! </i></b><br />
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Also as a little treat, here's the </div>
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<b><i>Nightmare Affair</i></b> book trailer!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rZQW9YmqWG4" width="480"></iframe><br />
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<b><i>About The Author..</i></b></div>
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Mindee Arnett lives on a horse farm in Ohio with her husband, two kids, a couple of dogs, and an inappropriate number of cats. She’s addicted to jumping horses and telling tales of magic, the macabre, and outer space. She has far more dreams than nightmares.</div>
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<b><i><u>Official Links:</u></i></b></div>
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<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Twitter:</u> <a href="http://twitter.com/mindeearnett">twitter.com/mindeearnett</a></div>
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<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Website:</u><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="http://www.mindeearnett.com/">www.mindeearnett.com</a></div>
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<i><b>Also be sure to enter the giveaway below for a chance to win! Two lucky bloggers will win a signed copy of The Nightmare Affair! The giveaway is tour wide and will be on every tour stop, also did I mention it's international?!</b></i></div>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/64262927/" id="rc-64262927" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712175102320496174noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022367929642329773.post-36290202280370484302013-02-01T04:51:00.000-08:002013-02-01T04:51:26.800-08:00Follow Friday #56<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><b>Follow Friday is hosted by the lovely <a href="http://www.parajunkee.com/">Parajunkee’s View</a> and Alison at <a href="http://www.alisoncanread.com/">Alison Can Read</a> If you'd like to participate, it's easy. To learn more and get started, go check out: <a href="http://www.parajunkee.com/">Parajunkee</a> and <a href="http://www.alisoncanread.com/">Alison Can Read</a>. Join the fun and make some new friends!</b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Q: What is the first thing you would do if you woke up to find yourself in your favorite book? via @<a href="https://twitter.com/GizmosReviews">GizmosReviews</a></i></span></blockquote>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">A: </i>Seriously only one book?! What kind of cruel and unusual punishment is this?! <i><b>*sighs dramatically* </b></i></div>
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Well now that I out that out of my system, I think I'll have to go with <i style="font-weight: bold;">Harry Potter. </i>If I woke up in <b><i>Hogwarts </i></b>the first thing I'd do would be going to visit that amazing library with great haste! Then after that practicing spells and such, and of course getting into mischief that one can only find in a magical world such as that :)</div>
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<i><b>Have a lovely weekend and happy reading!</b></i></div>
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Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712175102320496174noreply@blogger.com10