"Waiting On" Wednesday: Talon by Julie Kagawa

Hosted By Breaking the Spine

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights eagerly-anticipated upcoming releases.

My Pick This Week: 

Title: Talon

Book Series: Talon, Book #1

Author: Julie Kagawa

Genres: YA, Fantasy, Shapeshifters

Release Date: October 28, 2014

Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.

Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.

Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.

First of all -- this cover is everything! So gorgeous. I love the vibrant red; it feels so alive. It looks even more amazing with the gold titles and dark shadows. I love the "talisman" dragon; I hope it's central to the series. This isn't my typical genre; I'm not much of a traditional fantasy girl. But I will give this one a go.

Making Up For Monday: Series Reader?

Hosted by An Avid Reader; A Wannabe Writer

Each week, there will be a book-related theme or game, or something fun to do that week. And you can play along! All you have to do is find the question for that week and write a post that day based on that question.

This Week's Topic/Question:

Are you a big series reader? If so, what's your favorite?

My Answer:

I prefer reading series over stand-alone books. I love getting to go on a journey with the characters. You get to see how they came to be, how they adapt and change, as well as what their future holds on a grander scale. If I fall in love with a character I want as much of their story as I can get; this more of a guarantee with a series. Length doesn't bother me either, I don't care if it's a trilogy or twenty books. As long as it doesn't continue past it's natural expiration date (*coughs* Chairlaine Harris's Southern Vampire/Sookie Stackhouse series), it's all good.

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-A-Thon: End of Event Meme

I made it... sorta. The hour I found most daunting most definitely was Hour 21. I "took a nap", which ultimately ended my Read-a-thon. I should have just braved through it... oh well, live and learn.

High interest books that I think people would love would be Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. It was the first book I finished, and was so sweet. It kept me laughing and smiling, I loved it. Also, The audiobook for The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. I don't know why I didn't listen to my inner voice when it told me to take a breather on the heavy reading and sit back and relax with the audiobook. The author, Jim Dale, does a fabulous job bringing this magical, beautiful-written story to life.

Cover Characteristic: Sea Creatures

Hosted by Sugar & Snark

Each week we will post a characteristic and choose 5 of our favorite cover’s with that characteristic. 

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-A-Thon: Mid-Event Survey

Whew hew!!! Halfway done.

What book am I currently reading? I'm still chugging my way through Eleanor & Park! I really like it and I feel like I've slowed my pace to really enjoy it. Should be done fairly soon though. Sadly, I this also means that I have not finished a book thus far.

For the second half of the event, I am most looking forward to finishing to picking up the pace and finishing at least two more books. I'd be happy to cut my TBR list in (mostly) half.

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-A-Thon: Reading Log

This will be my base camp post for the challenge. Everything I do will be linked up here.

Let the Reading Commence!!!

Start Time: Hour 4 (8 AM)
Currently Reading: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Notes: Wrote my opening post and cracked open Eleanor & Park.

Hour 5 (9 AM)

Currently Reading: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Notes: Everything is progressing smoothly... 

Hour 6 (10 AM)

Currently Reading: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Notes: Making progress but not reading as quickly as I'd like too. I am really enjoying being
"in" this book. It makes me remember what it was like to have a crush and how the big, bad world felt not so scary when you were together.

Ready, Set, Go!!!!: Dewey's 24-Hour Read-A-Thon Opening Post

Hello from gorgeous Southern California! I'm only assuming it's gorgeous from the sun peaking through my windows, as I'm still curled up in bed :)

I'm attempting to read all of the books in my current TBR, which are:

1. Bitter Blood (The Morganville Vampires, #13) by Rachel Caine
2. Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1) by J.R. Ward
3. Dorothy Must Die (Dorothy Must Die, #1) by Danielle Page
4. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
5. Fear (Gone, #5) by Micheal Grant
6. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
7. The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu

Book Beginnings & The Friday 56: Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

Hosted By Rose City Reader & Freda's Voice

"Book Beginnings" is a weekly event that shares the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. "The Friday 56" is also a weekly event, sharing a sentence from page 56 or 56% in your eReader (If you have to improvise, that's ok.)


My Pick This Week: Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

“I first discovered I was trash three days before my ninth birthday—one year after my father lost his job and moved to Secaucus to live with a woman named Crystal and four years before my mother had the car accident, started taking pills, and began exclusively wearing bedroom slippers instead of normal shoes.

I was informed of my trashiness on the playground by Madison Pendleton, a girl in a pink Target sweat suit who thought she was all that because her house had one and a half bathrooms.”

~ p. 1 

“Who’s she?” 

Indigo scrunched her face up and swiveled her neck like I was a complete moron. “Oh yeah, who’s she? she asks. Please.”

“I’m new around here,” Indigo mocked me in a squeaky falsetto, slipping her backpack on. But as she did it, she looked at me. Really looked at me. “Wait, you’re not kidding, are you? You really aren’t from around here.” She was staring at my clothes. I guessed that jeans and a hoodie were not what the kids were wearing in Oz.” 

~ p. 56 

Book Blogger Hop: April 25th - May 1st — When Do You Write BBH Posts?

Hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer

"Book Blogger Hop" is a weekly meme where our fellow blogger submit new topics and everyone joins in with their answers.

This Week's Topic/Question:

Do you answer the Book Blogger Hop questions in advance and have them scheduled or do you write your post the night before or the day of the Book Blogger Hop? (submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews)

My Answer:

I'm trying this new thing called being organized. Mostly, it works and I see how so much of the world gets things accomplished on an regular, on-going basis. Usually, I wake up early Saturday mornings before everything opens and write all my posts for the week. Sometimes this process spills over into Sunday, but I'm typically done for the week come Monday.

But then, there are weeks like this one where I remember that, hey, I much prefer procrastination, and write my posts at 12:00AM the day they're due whilst thinking, "I really should be asleep right now."

What about you? Are you an Org or a Proc?

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon is Almost Here!

This will be my first time participating in this wonderful event!

I'm really excited for the potential to make a major dent in my 2014 Reading Goals - which frankly at this point, have been almost entirely abandoned. I'm participating in three annual reading challenges that I haven't made much progress with. I also "currently-reading" queue of about seven book -- all began with about 5-10% of progress. So, I have a lot to choose from.

I should mention that in February, I got the bright idea to start listening to my Storm Front audiobook, book one of my beloved The Dresden Files series by the brilliant and hilarious author Jim Butcher... and then I couldn't stop. Just began Book 11 today. Hence, the lack of reading progress. 

To get back on track, my goals for the event is to tackle my "currently reading" queue, and make some progress with my reading challenges. I plan on updating my progress every 3-4 hours. 

Are you participating?

In Honor of National Poetry Month...

Like most of us with blogs, I dabble in a bit of writing. Actually, I write a lot. But I don't share my work with others. I'm weird about it; can't explain. Anyway, I have written a lot of poetry over the years. Got me through some ghastly high school years (yep... I was one of those angry, sullen teens lol).

Anyway, here's a piece that I'm extremely proud of. I wrote it for a Goodreads challenge a few years back, where we had to write a poem or story with the theme "silent".

The Sewing Kit

You ask me what’s wrong and the effect is immediate,

It feels like as if trapdoor has slammed shut in my mind,

I press my lips together, painfully so, and you recognize the symptoms, 

Panic fills your eyes, but it’s too late.

A thimble, a needle and silken thread,

Constructs of my mind are all that keep you from the truth,

Shakily, a phantom hand threads the needle and lifts to my lips,

For every answer that you demand, I feel the thread pulling tighter,

My lips, torn and bleeding, but mending together anew,

The new skin is waxy and pink and tender to the touch, 

Unbreakable, I am made silent.

Your eyes bore into mine,

Begging for me to speak, pleading for the truth, 

Though, in this desperation, I think you’d even accept a lie,

Some words, any words, to ease your mind,

Just say something, you eyes demand,

And still, I remain silent.

I do not know how I appear, 

but on the inside my stomach churns,

Tears burn in my eyes and my own breath suffocates,

I want to tell you how I feel,

But the adrenaline pumps and I feel the urge - fight or flight, 

No, I scream inside, as I feel myself turn away from you,

Your eyes widen and my tears fall,

I wonder if I’ll ever speak at all.

My back is to you now and I hear you take a step toward me,

I feel the warmth of your fingertips as reach out to me, 

Hovering so close to my skin and then you touch me, 

My eyes close and I shudder, but I don’t turn around,

A moment or minutes or even eons pass; exasperated, you sigh,

Your hand falls and I hear you walk away,

Still silent though we’ve both said too much.

So??? Any thoughts? Feedback is appreciated, but be gentle :)

Thoughtful Thursday: Reading Order for Book Universe

Hosted by Reading Is Fun Again

I created Thoughtful Thursday, because bookish thoughts kept popping up in my mind while reading, and I wanted to explore these questions and get your opinions too! Each week, I will post a new bookish thought that I will discuss. 

This Week's Topic/Question:

Assuming that you are late to the party with a book series (and the entire series is completed) and you want to read every piece of text within a series' universe that you can get your hands on, in what order to you read the books, short stories, and novellas within the universe? Do you read the books first and then the short stories and novellas if you want more? Do you read the books, short stories, and novellas in order (either publication or chronological)? Do you read them in some other order?

My Answer:

Great question! As a general rule, I don't like spoilers. I always read the books start to finish uninterrupted and as quickly as possible. I've honestly never strayed from this habit since I was a kid. I remember picking up a book from the middle of a series and being very frustrated with not having the whole story, so I never did it again.

"Waiting On" Wednesday: The Fall by Bethany Griffin

Hosted By Breaking the Spine

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights eagerly-anticipated upcoming releases.

My Pick This Week: 

Title: The Fall

Author: Bethany Griffin

Genres: YA, Paranormal, Supernatural, Retellings, Gothic

Release Date: October 7, 2014

Madeline Usher is doomed.

She has spent her life fighting fate, and she thought she was succeeding. Until she woke up in a coffin.

Ushers die young. Ushers are cursed. Ushers can never leave their house, a house that haunts and is haunted, a house that almost seems to have a mind of its own. Madeline’s life—revealed through short bursts of memory—has hinged around her desperate plan to escape, to save herself and her brother. Her only chance lies in destroying the house.

In the end, can Madeline keep her own sanity and bring the house down? The Fall is a literary psychological thriller, reimagining Edgar Allan Poe’s classic The Fall of the House of Usher.

I haven't been one for retellings. But I think this one could work. It sounds really interesting and Poe was such a tragic and unique soul, there's really a lot of ways it can go. I'm definitely curious.

Cover Characteristic - Ghosts

Hosted by Sugar & Snark

Each week we will post a characteristic and choose 5 of our favorite cover’s with that characteristic. 

My Picks This Week:

Book Blogger Hop: April 18th - 24th — My Review Style

Hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer

"Book Blogger Hop" is a weekly meme where our fellow blogger submit new topics and everyone joins in with their answers.

This Week's Topic/Question:

Are your reviews more of a rehash of the story or do you comment on writing style, characters, and reflection? (submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews)

My Answer:

Simply rehashing would feel too much like a book report; book reports are homework — not fun. I prefer to just write whatever it is I feel after finishing the book. If I loved it, I gush about why it's awesome. If I hate it, I rant about why I disliked it.

Book Beginnings & The Friday 56: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Hosted By Rose City Reader & Freda's Voice

"Book Beginnings" is a weekly event that shares the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. "The Friday 56" is also a weekly event, sharing a sentence from page 56 or 56% in your eReader (If you have to improvise, that's ok.)


My Pick This Week: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

“XTC was no good for drowning out the morons at the back of the bus.
Park pressed his headphones into his ears.
Tomorrow he was going to bring Skinny Puppy or the Misfits. Or maybe he’d make a special bus tape with as much screaming and wailing on it as possible.”

~ p. 1 

“Eleanor looked like her mother through a fish tank. Rounder and softer. Slurred. Where her mother was statuesque, Eleanor was heavy. Where her mother was finely drawn, Eleanor was smudged.
After five kids, her mother had breasts and hips like a woman in a cigarette ad. At sixteen, Eleanor was already built like she ran a medieval pub.” 

~ p. 56 

"Waiting On" Wednesday: How the White Trash Zombie Got Her Groove Back

Hosted By Breaking the Spine

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights eagerly-anticipated upcoming releases. Click the link to participate.

My Pick This Week: 

Book Series: How the White Trash Zombie Got Her Groove Back

Author: Diana Rowland

Series: White Trash Zombie, Book #4

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Horror

Audible Narrator: Allison McLemore

Release Date: July

It’s zombie versus zombie as the Saberton Corporation declares war against the Zombie Mafia, kidnapping several of their party. It falls to Angel to lead the remnants of her gang halfway across the country to claw their way through corporate intrigue, zombie drugs, and undead trafficking to rescue her friends—and expose the traitor responsible for their abduction...

This has become one of my favorite series! It's just a fun read with a fresh take on zombies (in my humble, non-horror reading opinion). Plus, there's just something I love about Angel. She just feels like a real person.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Bookish Things (That Aren't Books) That I'd Like To Own

Hosted By The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by bibliophiles who describe themselves as "particularly fond of lists".

This Week's Topic:

Top Ten Bookish Things (That Aren't Books) That I'd Like To Own (new bookshelves, bookends, cool bookmark, a bookish shirt, etc. You can add things you DO own if you want).

My Answer:

My list goes from the easiest to the hardest to attain. The last two are the hardest and the least likely from where I am today, but I have high-in-the-sky-apple-pie hopes (from a Frank Sinatra song my Mom sang to me)!

#1 - BOOK QUOTE JEWELRY
I really want this cuff! I love this quote so much and I love that the entirely of Captain Wentworth's letter fits on it. I prefer Persuasion to Pride and Prejudice -- I identify with Ann more than I ever could with Lizzy.

Item: Jane Austen Persuasion - Captain Wentworth's Letter - Literary Quote Brass Cuff Bracelet

Handmade by: JezebelCharms

Source: Etsy

Making Up for Monday: How Many Books Do You Read At A Time?

Hosted by An Avid Reader; A Wannabe Writer

Each week, I will have a book-related theme or game, or something fun to do that week. And you can play along! All you have to do is find the question for that week, go to your own blog, write a post that day based on that question, and link your post to this one using the link up tool at the bottom of the post.

This Week's Question

How many books do you read at a time?

My Answer:

Waaaaaaaaaaay more than I should, lol. It all depends really on how excited I am about the books that I currently have in my possession.

Cover Characteristic: Reapers / Grim Reaper

Each week we will post a characteristic and choose 5 of our favorite cover’s with that characteristic. If you want to join in and share your 5 favorite covers with the weeks particular characteristic, then just make a post, grab the meme picture (or make your own) and leave your URL here or over at Sugar & Snark.

My Picks This Week:

Book Blogger Hop: April 11th - 17th — Best Book Marketing Tool?

Welcome everyone to another post of Book Blogger Hop (hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer). Each week there will be a new topic submit by a blogger and everyone can join in with their answers. You should join us! It's quite fun!

This Week's Topic/Question

What do you think is the best book marketing tool? Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Goodreads? (submitted by Anne)

My Answer:

For me, of the choices, it's a toss up between blogs and Goodreads. Both are trusted places for me to go when I'm looking for something new. With blogs, memes are excellent because I am not a fan of spoilers so I don't have to worry about sifting though reviews that might reveal something. Also seeing what the blog contributors are currently reading helps bulk up my TBR. With Goodreads, I take advantage of looking though the Listopia section which helps with many things -- finding book covers for memes I participate in, learning about upcoming releases and especially searching for books within a certain genre or that fit what I feel like reading at that moment in time.

Thoughtful Thursday: Finished Reading! Now What?

Hosted by Reading Is Fun Again

I created Thoughtful Thursday, because bookish thoughts kept popping up in my mind while reading, and I wanted to explore these questions and get your opinions too! Each week, I will post a new bookish thought that I will discuss. 

This Week's Topic/Question:

What do you do with the books that you have read? Do you keep them? Donate them? Gift them? Return them to the library? Throw them away? Make them into arts & crafts projects? Has this changed during the years? Have you noticed a change in your perspective regarding read books?

My Answer:

Hello, my name is Page and I am a Book Hoarder. What do you mean what do I do with them when I am done? I keep them, of course!

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Sublime by Christina Lauren

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights eagerly-anticipated upcoming releases. Click the link to participate.

My Pick This Week: 

Book Title: Sublime

Author: Christina Lauren

Genres: YA, Paranormal

Release Date: October 14, 2014

When Lucy wakes up in a frozen forest, she isn't sure why she's there, until she sees Colin.

Colin has captivated half the girls at Saint Osanna's, but no one has ever snared his fascination the way Lucy does. Even as Lucy begins to remember the details of her life–and her death–neither of them is willing to give up what they have, no matter how impossible it seems.

An adrenaline junkie, Colin begins taking himself to the brink of death, where their realities overlap–and discovers that he can physically be with Lucy. But maybe some lines shouldn't be crossed.

I wanted this book before I read the description. That is one amazing cover. So gorgeous! The story seems really great too.

Making Up for Monday: Readin' Snacks

Hosted by An Avid Reader; A Wannabe Writer

Each week, I will have a book-related theme or game, or something fun to do that week. And you can play along! All you have to do is find the question for that week, go to your own blog, write a post that day based on that question, and link your post to this one using the link up tool at the bottom of the post.

This Week's Question

Do you like to eat or drink anything while reading? If so, what?

My Answer:

In general, I have a pretty limited snacking pallet. I love munching on popcorn and licorice paired with Lipton Brisk ice teas.

Cover Characteristic: Witches/Wizards

Each week we will post a characteristic and choose 5 of our favorite cover’s with that characteristic. If you want to join in and share your 5 favorite covers with the weeks particular characteristic, then just make a post, grab the meme picture (or make your own) and leave your URL here or over at Sugar & Snark.

My Picks This Week:

Book Blogger Hop: April 4th - 10th — What Makes A Book Good or Bad?

Welcome everyone to another post of Book Blogger Hop (hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer). Each week there will be a new topic submit by a blogger and everyone can join in with their answers. You should join us! It's quite fun!

This Week's Topic/Question

To you, what qualifies a book as good or bad? Are some books objectively better than others, or is it purely a matter of opinion? (submitted by Zeb @ Zebulous Reading )

My Answer:

Oh, okay. Zeb's throwing out the big guns with this question. I prefer not black or white, but all the beautiful shades of grey that fall somewhere in the middle. Just like no one two people see the world the same; no two people read the same book the same way.

Thoughtful Thursday: Protagonists

Hosted by Reading Is Fun Again

I created Thoughtful Thursday, because bookish thoughts kept popping up in my mind while reading, and I wanted to explore these questions and get your opinions too! Each week, I will post a new bookish thought that I will discuss. 

This Week's Topic/Question:

Assuming that the protagonist is well written, do you need to like the protagonist to enjoy the book? Does the protagonist need to share similar values to you or be an extension of you in some way? Can the protagonist be completely different from you and you still enjoy the book?

My Answer:

Oh wow, this is a good question and also very hard to answer. I prefer to read book series, so I can't say that there are many that I've read where I didn't like the protagonist. There definitely are some series where the protagonist wasn't my favorite character. For instance, Harry Potter. I found his journey more compelling than Harry as a character. The world building was so rich that it drew me in. My favorite characters of Sirius Black, Dumbledore, Professor Snape and Dobby.

"Waiting On" Wednesday: The Falconer by Elizabeth May

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights eagerly-anticipated upcoming releases. Click the link to participate.

My Pick This Week: 

Book Title: The Falconer

Author: Elizabeth May

Genres: YA, Historical, Fantasy, Fae

Release Date: May 6, 2014