Friday, March 31, 2017

March 2017 Wrap Up & Book Haul


*March Book Haul*

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
The End of Oz by Danielle Paige
The Ship Beyond Time by Heidi Heilig

Horizon by Scott Westerfeld
Kill All Happies by Rachel Cohn
The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr
Royal Bastards by Andrew Shvarts
Wildman by J.C. Geiger
What Goes Up by Katie Kennedy


*March Wrap Up*

Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton
That Summer by Sarah Dessen
Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen

*Not Pictured*
Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller
The Harder You Fall by Gena Showalter
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Seven Days of You by Cecilia Vinesse
The Whole Thing Together by Ann Brashares
Blood Rose Rebellion by Rosalyn Eves

Wow, I totally didn't realize how many books I had read until I started working on this post. LOL!
12 books is totally not bad at all, and I'm hoping to keep up the momentum, because my
April and May TBR's are MASSIVE.
I'm really hoping I can keep up.

I'm doing well so far on my Sarah Dessen Readathon!
I've read both That Summer and Someone Like You,
and I have another stack to start in April, so hopefully I can keep up with those as well.

I love all the books that I got in my March Book Haul!
I've only read one so far, but I'm hoping to get to the rest soon. :)

That's all for me this month! How was your month??
Tell me what books you got!!



Thursday, March 30, 2017

Blog Tour: Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32048554-windfall
Windfall
by Jennifer E. Smith
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: May 2nd 2017
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 432
ISBN: 9780399559372
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Review Copy

Add to Goodreads

Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Alice doesn’t believe in luck—at least, not the good kind. But she does believe in love, and for some time now, she’s been pining for her best friend, Teddy. On his eighteenth birthday—just when it seems they might be on the brink of something—she buys him a lottery ticket on a lark. To their astonishment, he wins $140 million, and in an instant, everything changes.

At first, it seems like a dream come true, especially since the two of them are no strangers to misfortune. As a kid, Alice won the worst kind of lottery possible when her parents died just over a year apart from each other. And Teddy’s father abandoned his family not long after that, leaving them to grapple with his gambling debts. Through it all, Teddy and Alice have leaned on each other. But now, as they negotiate the ripple effects of Teddy’s newfound wealth, a gulf opens between them. And soon, the money starts to feel like more of a curse than a windfall.

As they try to find their way back to each other, Alice learns more about herself than she ever could have imagined . . . and about the unexpected ways in which luck and love sometimes intersect. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts...

I can't even begin to tell you how super excited I was to finally start Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith. I have read two of her previous books in the past, and really enjoyed them, and I have a few more sitting on my shelf, just waiting for me to start them. As soon as I discovered Windfall , I knew I had to have it! Now that I've read it, I can tell you it is definitely a welcome addition to my growing collection!

As most of you probably  know, I'm a huge fan of contemporary novels, and I tend to read them a lot faster than most other books. This book was no exception! I read all 400+ pages in just a few hours time, and I loved every minute of it. Windfall seriously gave me all the feelings all I flew through the pages. The storyline is completely engrossing, and it's not only about teenagers winning the lottery, it's about finding yourself, and the things that really matter in life. And I love that.

I also really love so many characters in the story, including the two main characters, Alice and Teddy. Both have been through so much in their young lives, but they've had each other through it all. And they both have pretty amazing family members in their lives as well, including Alice's cousin and Teddy's best friend, Leo, who I love, and Leo's parents and Teddy's mom is great as well. So much love for and from all these people. These characters were all so great.

Overall; I really loved so much about Windfall; the storyline, the characters, EVERYTHING. It gave me all the feels, and these are the types of books that I just can't get enough of! I can't wait for the copy I preordered to arrive in May to add to my collection, and I'm now even more excited to read the rest of Jennifer's books that I haven't read yet! Get your copy of Windfall in stores and online on May 2nd, or preorder your copy today!!


About the Author:
 JENNIFER E. SMITH (@JenESmith) is the author of seven novels for young adults, including The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. She earned a master's degree in creative writing from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and spent years working as an editor on a number of bestselling books, including Ballantine's New York Times bestseller Tell the Wolves I'm Home. Her work has been translated into thirty-three languages, and four of her novels are currently in development for film. She lives in New York City.



Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Blog Tour: The Whole Thing Together by Ann Brashares • Q&A

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31123236-the-whole-thing-together
The Whole Thing Together
by Ann Brashshares
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: April 25th 2017
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 304
ISBN: 9780385736893
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Review Copy

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Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Ann Brashares, beloved author of the bestselling The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, which has sold over 8.7 million copies in all formats, is back with another unforgettable story about fractured families, first love, and loss in her latest novel, THE WHOLE THING TOGETHER (Delacorte Press / on sale April 25, 2017 / $18.99), which carries a first printing of 100,000 copies. Readers will feel the sand between their toes and smell the salty air of Brashares’s Long Island beach town setting, which serves as the backdrop for Sasha and Ray’s unusual and budding relationship.

Summer for Sasha and Ray means the sprawling old house on Long Island. Since they were children, they’ve shared almost everything—reading the same books, running down the same sandy footpaths to the beach, eating peaches from the same market, laughing around the same sun-soaked dining table. Even sleeping in the same bed, on the very same worn cotton sheets. But they’ve never met.

Sasha’s dad was once married to Ray’s mom, and together they had three daughters: Emma, the perfectionist; Mattie, the beauty; and Quinn, the favorite. But the marriage crumbled and the bitterness lingered. Now there are two new families—and neither one will give up the beach house that holds the memories, happy and sad, of summers past.

The choices we make come back to haunt us; the effect on our destinies ripples out of our control . . . or does it? This summer, the lives of Sasha, Ray, and their siblings intersect in ways none of them ever dreamed, in a novel about family relationships, keeping secrets, and most of all, love. Booklist hailed THE WHOLE THING TOGETHER as “quintessential Brashares,” and fans of Brashares’s work as well as new readers will dive wholeheartedly into this original story that is a love letter to romance, summertime, and family—no matter how unconventional they may be.

*Questions & Answers with Ann!!*

Hey Bookworms!!

Today I'm helping to spread the love for The Whole Thing Together by the awesome Ann Brashares! Keep reading to see the Question & Answer session I had with Ann, and I'll be sharing my thoughts for the book below as well!

1. The Whole Thing Together has an interesting storyline. How did you come up with the idea for it?
I was itching to write a family epic with many viewpoints. I started with three daughters of divorced parents, which somehow led me down the road to Sasha and Ray--who are deeply, strangely connected but not related.

2. There were a lot of different characters in the book to follow. Who was your favorite character to write?
That is always a difficult question for me--like choosing favorites among children. If I were forced to answer I might say Ray, because I don't write the male point of view that often and I enjoy it.

3. The story is told from many different viewpoints, which I generally like, as I feel you get more information this way. Did you always plan to write the book this way, or did you ever consider writing it from just one characters perspective?
I knew from the outset this would be a book with multiple protagonists and many perspectives, so I just tried to stay close and true to whomever I was writing at the time. I tend to write the arc of each character from start to finish before I turn to the next one, so that helps keep me attached.

4. There was a pretty emotional twist near the end of the book. Was that hard for you to write?

Very hard. That kind of scene always is. I left it as a dark hole in the book and had to gird myself when it was finally time to fill it.

5. Most of your books are contemporary novels, while you have a few from other genres as well. What is your favorite genre to write?
So far I have written mostly contemporary fiction, but I love historical fiction and history generally, so I'd like to try that too.

6. Of all the books you've written so far, which is your favorite?
Again, hard to choose. My daughter says this one is her favorite.

7. What are you currently reading, (or what was the last book you read)?
I'm reading a novel by Hilary Mantel that takes place during the French Revolution called A Place of Greater Safety. She also wrote Wolf Hall which is one of my all-time favorites.


More about Ann...
Ann Brashares is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, The Here and Now, 3 Willows, The Last Summer (of You & Me), and My Name Is Memory. She lives in New York City with her family. Visit Ann’s website at AnnBrashares.com and follow on Twitter @AnnBrashares.


  Blog Tour Stops:


March 20: Bookhounds YA  April 10: The Fandom

March 21: Butter My Books                  Page Turners  

March 22: Here's to Happy Endings  April 11: Liz & Lisa  

March 23: Fiction Fare  April 12: Gidget Girl Reading 

March 24: A Midsummer Night's Read  April 13: Art, Books, & Coffee 

March 27: Emily Reads Everything  April 14: Leslie Lindsay

March 28: In Wonderland April 17: Swoony Boys Podcast

March 29: The Reader Bee  April 18: Ramblings of the Perpetual New Girl 

March 30: Books, Music, And All Things Written  April 19: YA Wednesdays

March 31: YA Book Nerd April 21: I'd So Rather Be Reading 

April 3: Peace Love Books April 22: Adventures in YA Publishing 

April 4: Tales of the Ravenous Reader  April 24: Adventures in YA Publishing

April 5: Sarah's Nightstand  April 25: A Dream Within A Dream 

April 6: Novel Ink  April 26: Lost in Literature

April 7: Fangirlish 




___________________________________________________

My Thoughts...

Of course I had my eye on The Whole Thing Together by Ann Brashares the moment I first saw it. I've only read a few of Ann's books so far, and have really enjoyed those, so I was pretty excited to check out this new book. When the opportunity arrive to check out an advanced copy, and to have a Q&A session with Ann, I jumped on it! You've read my Q&A with Ann above, now see what I thought of the book below!

The Whole Thing Together was a very interesting read. I've read a lot of contemporary novels in my time, and I can't say that I've read any other book that has such an storyline with such a... I'm going to say entwining storyline. With so many characters being related, and not related, but still somewhat related. Well, I'm not doing a very good job of describing this, so you'll just have to read the book to see what I'm talking about! Also, the book was a very quick read; I started and finished it in just a few hours time. (I'm a pretty big fan of contemporary novels, and I tend to read them quicker than most other genres .)

There were a lot of interesting characters to keep up with in the book, and trying to keep them sorted was a little confusing in the begining, but once I figured out who went where, it was a lot easier to read. Some of these characters you will really like, and some will definitely have to grow on you over time. I like that the story is told from different viewpoints, actually from at least 4 different viewpoints. I enjoy getting multiple characters perspectives, as I feel like you really get so much more information when the author writes this way. (And I'm all about the details!)

Overall;  The Whole Thing Together was a very interesting read, and I'm glad that I had the opportunity to check it out, and to participate in this blog tour! I still have quite a few more of Ann's books that I still need to read, including finishing up the Sisterhood series, which I'm hoping to tackle this summer. (What better time to read them, right?)  Get your copy of The Whole Thing Together in stores on April 25th!!


Monday, March 27, 2017

Sarah Dessen Readathon: That Summer

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/104379.That_Summer
That Summer
by Sarah Dessen
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: January 1st 1996
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Pages: 208
ISBN: 9780670061105
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Own

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Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

For fifteen-year-old Haven, life is changing too quickly. She's nearly six feet tall, her father is getting remarried, and her sister—the always perfect Ashley—is planning a wedding of her own. Haven wishes things could just go back to the way they were. Then an old boyfriend of Ashley's reenters the picture, and through him, Haven sees the past for what it really was, and comes to grips with the future. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts...

With Sarah Dessen's newest book, Once and For All, due to release in just a little over two months, I'm challenging myself to a Sarah Dessen Readathon! My plan is to read ALL of Sarah's books, in order from oldest to newest, over the next few weeks. If I can keep up, I'll be able to read all the books just in time before the newest is released. I'm super excited about this, as I adore Sarah's books, and I'd love the chance to read them all. Some will be rereads, and a few I haven't read before, so I'm excited to get started on those! I plan to make a blog post to share a few thoughts on the books as I read them.

The first book on my list to read was That Summer, Sarah's very first book. I was really excited to finally start this book, as I've had it on my TBR, and on my bookshelf, for way too long. This is one of the few books that I had not yet read by Sarah.

I have to admit, That Summer is definitely not my most favorite book by Sarah, but the story was still really interesting, as were the characters. I remember being the main character Haven's age and having so much happen at once, so I was definitely able to relate to her through that. (Although she did handle things a lot better than I did at that age. *smirk*.)

I figured out where the storyline was going pretty early on in the story. I saw it coming, even though I was also expecting something different. But, the book read very much like a Dessen novel, and I enjoyed that part. The only thing that I missed in this book compared to her more recent books was definitely the romance. Call me a sucker, but I can't resist the romance. Otherwise, I enjoyed this book!

Overall; That Summer was an interesting read, and I'm so glad I finally made time to read it. Now I'm super excited to move on to the next book, Someone Like You, which is another new-to-me book, and I can't wait to finally read it as well!



My Thoughts: Blood Rose Rebellion by Rosalyn Eves

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31020402-blood-rose-rebellion
Blood Rose Rebellion
(Blood Rose Rebellion #1)
by Rosalyn Eves
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: March 28th 2017
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 416
ISBN: 9781101935996
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Historical Fiction
Source: Netgalley

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Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

The thrilling first book in a YA fantasy trilogy for fans of Red Queen. In a world where social prestige derives from a trifecta of blood, money, and magic, one girl has the ability to break the spell that holds the social order in place.

Sixteen-year-old Anna Arden is barred from society by a defect of blood. Though her family is part of the Luminate, powerful users of magic, she is Barren, unable to perform the simplest spells. Anna would do anything to belong. But her fate takes another course when, after inadvertently breaking her sister’s debutante spell—an important chance for a highborn young woman to show her prowess with magic—Anna finds herself exiled to her family’s once powerful but now crumbling native Hungary.

Her life might well be over.

In Hungary, Anna discovers that nothing is quite as it seems. Not the people around her, from her aloof cousin Noémi to the fierce and handsome Romani Gábor. Not the society she’s known all her life, for discontent with the Luminate is sweeping the land. And not her lack of magic. Isolated from the only world she cares about, Anna still can’t seem to stop herself from breaking spells.

As rebellion spreads across the region, Anna’s unique ability becomes the catalyst everyone is seeking. In the company of nobles, revolutionaries, and Romanies, Anna must choose: deny her unique power and cling to the life she’s always wanted, or embrace her ability and change that world forever. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts...

The first thing that drew me to Blood Rose Rebellion by Rosalyn Eves was its stunning cover. If you know me at all, you’ll know that I absolutely cannot resist a gorgeous cover! The summary for the book sounded really interesting as well, so I couldn’t wait to get started on it. I don’t think I’ve read anything like this book before, and I found it to be a very interesting read.

It only took one chapter of Blood Rose Rebellion for me to become really interested in the story. I’ve read a lot of stories about magic, so I figured this one would be just another magical story, but it wasn’t. I really appreciated the uniqueness of the story. I also really enjoyed the setting as well, which started in London, and ends in Hungary. The ending came together nicely, and also left me with a few questions, especially after that epilogue. I’m curious to see what’s going to happen next as the series goes along.

There were a lot of interesting characters throughout the story. The main character, Anna, was a little frustrating at times, as she was trying to figure out exactly who she is and what she could do. I love her grandmamma and her family in Hungary, including her cousins. There are a lot of characters in this novel to keep up with, and some you’re really going to like, and some… not so much. But they were all well written.

Overall; Blood Rose Rebellion was a very interesting beginning to what should prove to be a very unique series. I’m super curious to get my hands on the next book to see what’s going to happen next.


Sunday, March 26, 2017

Week in Review • Week 12


Ahhh, Spring Break is officially over.
:(
Now it's back to super early mornings, and busy, busy days. Sigh.
However, with the kids back to school, I may actually get some reading done.
HAHA!

Here's what I've been up to this week...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29739361-traitor-to-the-throne https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31020402-blood-rose-rebellion

This week I managed to finish three books. The first was Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton, which I'd been working my way through for the past two weeks, and finally finished. Boy, that was a good book. I can't wait to get my hands on book #3!

I also read Blood Rose Rebellion by Rosalyn Eves, which was really interesting, and I'm hoping to share my thoughts about the book on the blog this week.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/104379.That_Summer

I also started my very own Sarah Dessen Readathon this week. Since her newest book, Once and For All is due to release at the beginning of June, I've challenged myself to read ALL her books before then. (Because, you know, I don't already have a massive TBR at the moment. Let's just throw in a challenge while we're at it. HAHA!) I've read a good chunk of Sarah's books, but I'm excited to read them all again, AND to finally read the ones I haven't read yet as well.

This was my first time reading That Summer, and I really enjoyed it. It was so different than what I expected. I can't wait to start the next book on my list, Someone Like You, which is another book I've not yet read by Sarah. Yay!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2771200 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286499

I managed to squeeze in two movies this week, both of which I really enjoyed. We finally made it to the theater to see Beauty and the Beast, and I enjoyed it so much more than I expected to. Emma Watson was SO good in this movie. I can't wait to see it again soon, hopefully, and to own it once it's released as well! It will be a much welcome addition to my collection. :)

I also watched Bend it Like Beckham with my dearest Kathy from A Glass of Wine.
I'd never seen this movie before, and I was thrilled when Kathy suggested we watch it.
I really, really enjoyed it as well!

https://www.instagram.com/thereaderbee/

I'm really surprised at how much I managed to get done this week with the kids home.
The next few weeks are going to be super busy around here, and Summer Break is right around the corner as well. I'll be busting my hump trying to get everything done.
But such is life, right?! Haha!

That's all for me this week, so...

Thursday, March 23, 2017

My Thoughts: Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29739361-traitor-to-the-throne
Traitor to the Throne
(Rebel of the Sands #2)
by Alywn Hamilton
Twitter | Tumblr

Publication Date: March 7th 2017
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Pages: 513
ISBN: 9780451477859
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy
Source: Review Copy

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Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Rebel by chance. Traitor by choice.

Gunslinger Amani al'Hiza fled her dead-end hometown on the back of a mythical horse with the mysterious foreigner Jin, seeking only her own freedom. Now she’s fighting to liberate the entire desert nation of Miraji from a bloodthirsty sultan who slew his own father to capture the throne.

When Amani finds herself thrust into the epicenter of the regime—the Sultan’s palace—she’s determined to bring the tyrant down. Desperate to uncover the Sultan’s secrets by spying on his court, she tries to forget that Jin disappeared just as she was getting closest to him, and that she’s a prisoner of the enemy. But the longer she remains, the more she questions whether the Sultan is really the villain she’s been told he is, and who’s the real traitor to her sun-bleached, magic-filled homeland.

Forget everything you thought you knew about Miraji, about the rebellion, about Djinn and Jin and the Blue-Eyed Bandit. In Traitor to the Throne, the only certainty is that everything will change. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts...

I'm not sure I can begin to tell you how excited I was to finally start reading Traitor to the Throne. Seriously, I was SUPER excited! I read Rebel of the Sands last year, and really enjoyed the story. I had the pleasure to read the book again last month before starting Traitor to the Throne, and I loved it even more the second time around. I couldn't wait to see what was in store for us in this sequel, and Traitor to the Throne definitely did NOT disappoint.

One of the things I absolutely loved about this series are the characters. There are SO many characters to love in this series, including the main character, Amani, who is quite the rebel badass. (Pardon my french.) I love everything about this girl. She's fierce and fearless, with a heart much bigger than you'd expect. I love that she can hold her own when she needs to. She's totally become one of my most favorite YA heroines.

And there's not just Amani, this series is FILLED with characters that you'll love. Some you will not be so sure of at first, and some you will love from the beginning. Jin is another favorite of mine. Though we don't see a lot of him in this sequel, the parts where he is in the story definitely makes up for that. There's also Shazad, Ahmed, and all the characters that we know and love in the first book, and a few new interesting characters as well. And, there are quite a few characters that you're going to really hate as well. 

This book took me a lot longer than I expected to finish. I'd like to say that my subconscious was keeping me from finishing it, because it just didn't want the story to end, but in reality, I've just been really busy. However, when I wasn't reading the book, I found myself constantly thinking about it. The twists and turns throughout the story definitely kept me hooked, and the characters and setting really make the story so interesting. I finally found a moment to sit down and dedicate my time to the last half of the book, and it nearly broke me. That ending. Ugh, I was in tears. I need the next book now, please!

Overall; If you've not yet started reading this series, I implore you to do so. Traitor to the Throne was an excellent sequel to Rebel of the Sands, and I absolutely can't wait to get my hands on book 3, which is currently untitled, but is expected to be published in 2018. I need this book NOW! *grin*



Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Waiting on Wednesday #276 - The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33843251-the-afterlife-of-holly-chase
The Afterlife of Holly Chase
by Cynthia Hand
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: November 7th 2017
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN: 9780062318503
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33843251-the-afterlife-of-holly-chase

Available for Pre-Order:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

On Christmas Eve five years ago, Holly was visited by three ghosts who showed her how selfish and spoiled she'd become. They tried to convince her to mend her ways.

She didn't.

And then she died.

Now she's stuck working for the top-secret company Project Scrooge--as the latest Ghost of Christmas Past.

Every year, they save another miserly grouch. Every year, Holly stays frozen at seventeen while her family and friends go on living without her. So far, Holly's afterlife has been miserable.

But this year, everything is about to change. . . . (Goodreads)

What?? That summary!! WHAT IS ABOUT TO CHANGE for Holly??
Gah, I'm dying to know.
This story sounds awesome! I can't wait to check it out!
**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**


Sunday, March 19, 2017

Week in Review • Week 11


Geez, can you believe we are already 11 weeks into this new year?
The time is definitely flying by!!

This week was a good week. I finished quite a few books, and watched a movie as well.
Go me!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26138370-seven-days-of-you https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31123236-the-whole-thing-together

This week I read two physical books, one being Seven Days of You by Cecilia Vinesse, which was super cute, and also The Whole Thing Together by Ann Brashares, which I'll have a review up on the blog soon!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21848289-the-harder-you-fallhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1217100.Thirteen_Reasons_Whyhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21473404-the-lightning-thiefhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22456248-the-sea-of-monsters

I listened to quite a few audiobooks as well, including The Harder You Fall by Gena Showalter, which I really enjoyed, and can't wait for the next few books in the series to come out.

I also listened to Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, to refresh my brain before the series comes out on Netflix later this month. I'm really excited to watch it.

And I finished the audiobooks for  Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief  and Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan. This is my second time reading these books, and I'm really enjoying them!

Six books this week. Not too bad!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034583/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

I only watched one movie this week, but I was super stoked to finally watch Casablanca with my book club girls! This was my very first time watching the movie, and I'm kicking myself for not having watched it sooner. I LOVE THIS MOVIE! And I really can't wait to watch it again. Hopefully soon!

https://www.instagram.com/thereaderbee/


My kids are officially out of school for Spring Break. I imagine I'm not going to get a lot accomplished this week with them home, but I'm hoping to at least get in a little bit of reading time. We will see!! We did start Spring Cleaning today, and I LOVE what we've done so far. Out with the old!

That's about all for me this week, sooo....
Save

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Waiting on Wednesday #275 - Top Ten by Katie Cotugno

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33799302-top-ten
Top Ten
by Katie Cotugno
Website | Twitter | Tumblr

Publication Date: October 3rd 2017
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
ISBN: 9780062418302
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33799302-top-ten
Available for Pre-Order:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

From Katie Cotugno, New York Times bestselling author of 99 Days, How to Love, and Fireworks, comes Top Ten—the top ten best moments in the best friendship—turned potential romance—between a couple who should have nothing in common.

Ryan McCullough and Gabby Hart are the unlikeliest of friends. Introverted, anxious Gabby would rather do literally anything than go to a party. Ryan is a star hockey player who can get any girl he wants—and does, frequently. But against all odds, they became not only friends, but each other’s favorite person. Now, as they face high school graduation, they can’t help but take a moment to reminisce and, in their signature tradition, make a top ten list—counting down the top ten moments of their friendship:

10. Where to begin? Maybe the night we met.
9. Then there was our awkward phase.
8. When you were in love with me but never told me…
7. Those five months we stopped talking were the hardest of my life.
6. Through terrible fights…
5. And emotional makeups.
4. You were there for me when I got my heart broken.
3. …but at times, you were also the one breaking it.
2. Above all, you helped me make sense of the world.
1. Now, as we head off to college—how am I possibly going to live without you? (Goodreads)

A new book from Katie Cotugno? Yes, please!
I think the main character has already won me over, just by reading the summary.
Introverted and anxious, that sounds just like me,
and I'm sure we will get along just fine. Haha!
Super excited to have this one my TBR!
**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**


Tuesday, March 14, 2017

My Thoughts: Seven Days of You by Cecilia Vinesse

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26138370-seven-days-of-you
Seven Days of You
by Cecilia Vinesse
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Publication Date: March 7th 2016
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
ISBN: 9780316391115
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Review Copy

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Available for Purchase:
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Sophia has seven days left in Tokyo before she moves back to the States. Seven days to say good-bye to the electric city, her wild best friend, and the boy she’s harbored a semi-secret crush on for years. Seven perfect days…until Jamie Foster-Collins moves back to Japan and ruins everything.

Jamie and Sophia have a history of heartbreak, and the last thing Sophia wants is for him to steal her leaving thunder with his stupid arriving thunder. Yet as the week counts down, the relationships she thought were stable begin to explode around her. And Jamie is the one who helps her pick up the pieces. Sophia is forced to admit she may have misjudged Jamie, but can their seven short days of Tokyo adventures end in anything but good-bye? (Goodreads)

My Thoughts...

To be honest, the first thing that drew me to Seven Days of You by Cecilia Vinesse was the gorgeous cover. How can you resist a cover that is that stunning and bright? And then I was drawn in even more by the summary for the book. As if I haven't mentioned this a lot lately, I'm going to say it again: I adore contemporary novels, and I seem to be reading a lot of them lately. (And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that!) Seven Days of You was definitely a great contemporary read!

There are a lot of characters in this story that you're really going to love, including the main character, Sophia, who is full of awesomeness, and has a pretty amazing mom and sister as well. Then there's Jamie, the boy Sophie had a crush on for years, who moved away but is back in Tokyo the very same week she's leaving to move to the States. WHAT?! (Yeah, you totally want to read this book now, right?) I loved so many of these characters. They were perfection. Sigh.

As I mentioned above, I can't resist a good contemporary novel. They are my favorites, and totally give me all the feels. The storyline for Seven Days of You was sweet, and completely addictive. I was hooked as I turned the pages. AND, I also absolutely loved the setting in this book. The author did an amazing job of describing Tokyo, I could totally see it so clearly in my mind, and it sounds amazing. I have to admit, I haven't read very many books set in Japan, but it totally sounds like a place I would love to visit in the future.

Overall; Cecilia Vinesse definitely has a hit on her hands with Seven Days of You! I, for one, really enjoyed the story, and I'm super excited to read more by Cecilia in the future! (Hopefully sooner than later. *wink*) Check the book out today!