tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36450555162053383072024-03-13T21:12:05.019-04:00I like reading books. Beware of the spoilers!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger39125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645055516205338307.post-80643304477903527402015-12-20T01:05:00.002-05:002015-12-20T01:05:30.260-05:00Is anyone out there?Soooo I took a <i>slightly</i> longer than anticipated hiatus.<br />
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Heh, welcome to college life!<br />
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Anyway, I recently learned about <a href="http://blog.netgalley.com/">Netgalley</a> and I'm thinking about starting this back up again. I love to read, I love talking about what I read, and Netgalley is exactly what that's for! It's a completely free service and a way to read advanced copies in exchange for honest reviews.<br />
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If anyone's still out there, be on the lookout. We might have something new to talk about!<br />
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Happy Holidays!<br />
JamieUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645055516205338307.post-21238647168896711632013-10-27T15:10:00.002-04:002013-10-27T15:10:30.837-04:00Willow Reads: The Boy Who Sneaks in My Bedroom Window by Kristy Moseley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNU2kqvTCChG0rv72GMGAAts_1RnYSM9U-igtZkqMUt5tQc05GXiUGksf2UZSqm_glibygKpjp3dsd_GHZUaduiON-fYsLfe7M76QKmj6AkTqhZa2fr-qhenBWdRGbCGPsiqAG1PLzbpbW/s1600/13628209.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/AVvXsEgNU2kqvTCChG0rv72GMGAAts_1RnYSM9U-igtZkqMUt5tQc05GXiUGksf2UZSqm_glibygKpjp3dsd_GHZUaduiON-fYsLfe7M76QKmj6AkTqhZa2fr-qhenBWdRGbCGPsiqAG1PLzbpbW/s320/13628209.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Amber Walker and her older brother, Jake, have an abusive father. One night her brother's best friend, Liam, sees her crying and climbs through her bedroom window to comfort her. That one action sparks a love/hate relationship that spans over the next eight years.</span><br style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Liam is now a confident, flirty player who has never had a girlfriend before. Amber is still emotionally scarred from the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father. Together they make an unlikely pair.</span><br style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Their relationship has always been a rocky one, but what happens when Amber starts to view her brother's best friend a little differently? And how will her brother, who has always been a little overprotective, react when he finds out that the pair are growing closer? Find out in The Boy Who Sneaks In My Bedroom Window.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Title: The Boy Who Sneaks in My Bedroom Window</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Author: Kristy Moseley</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Page Count: 256 pages</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Book website: Doesn't seem to be one, but you can check out the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13628209-the-boy-who-sneaks-in-my-bedroom-window?ac=1">Goodreads page</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Published: April 30, 2012</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Source: Goodreads</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><b><i><u>Spoilers aheaddddd.</u></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">I just finished this book about an hour ago as of starting this post, I came straight to my blog and had to make an update post so people didn't die of shock seeing me back here. Anyway, I just finished this book in one sitting (it's small enough to do so). Hardly anything can take me away from my homework for that long... I found myself not <i>wanting</i> to leave my phone. I read it via ebook on my phone, so that's why I couldn't leave that behind. I just <i>had</i> to talk about this book. I knew where to come. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;"><i>Wow</i>. That's like.. the only word I have. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">So, in this book, there's a family. They're introduced as happy, until the father comes home.. He thinks his kids are a nuisance, even though you can tell by the voice of our main character, Amber, and the dialogue she's describing... They're not bad kids at all. Eventually we find that the father is abusive, not only physically and mentally... but, to Amber, sexually as well. One night, Amber's older brother's friend, Liam, hears her crying from his house next door. He sneaks into her window, ends up falling asleep with her in bed (nothing happened, she was 8 and he was like 12), and eventually this happens nightly. It's a huge risk, with Liam almost getting caught a few times, but it turns out ok.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">Cut to a few years later, where Liam and Amber's brother, Jake, beat the father and kick him out, telling him to never come back otherwise they'd kill him. They had found him about to rape Amber, after beating her up. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">Skip to three years later. Amber's now sixteen years old. Her father left, and her mom got an amazing job, even though it travels a lot. The siblings look after one another, but are pretty independent. The relationship between her and Liam is hilarious. He's a man-whore, and she's not afraid to tell him. He sleeps around, he's never had a girlfriend... He's annoying, stealing her cereal, calling her Angel, and constantly teasing her.. Pulling her hair, hitting on her (much to her brother's annoyance).. Then, at night, sneaking into her bedroom window and being a total sweetheart. I'd be confused if I were her. </span></span><br />
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Because of her abusive past, though, Amber can't stand to be touched by anyone besides Liam. He had comforted her through everything, and even though they didn't get along well during the day he made her feel safe. So, it's pretty easy to guess that all walls break down and they eventually get together in a romantic relationship.<br />
<br />Of course, because Liam normally sleeps around.. When he becomes exclusive and says that the girl he's with doesn't want to have sex right away, a bet comes along. Pretty much every girl in that school bets $20 that they'll be the next to have sex with him, because they think he's a sex-crazed party boy that can't live without. The bets reach to like $4,200, which is insane; it also makes Liam insane because every single girl within a 50-mile radius is trying to get in his pants. It eventually leads to Amber having sex with him a week into the relationship...<br />
<br />
Before you start thinking she's a whore, read the book. She was a virgin who had known him since she was like 4 years old. They slept in bed together, doing nothing but sleeping, from the time she was 8 until the time she was 16 and finally decided to have sex. A few days before that, she had gone to a clinic to be put on birth control and they had given her condoms. And in this day and age, that's actually really responsible, she was doing it on her own.<br />
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From there, the relationship just starts getting really cute. They skip school to go on dates (as a future teacher, I can't condone that, but as a fangirl I can.. shhhh...), eventually everyone finds out about the relationship... And then all hell breaks loose.<br />
<br />
We find out that Amber and Jake's father has another family, a wife who had a kid from a previous marriage and then together they had another baby. We also find out that he moved back into the same town as Amber, Jake, and company. This leads to Amber having a huge panic attack, because... Think about it. She was abused in every way possible by him, she fears him more than she fears anything else. The kid from a previous marriage, Johnny, is 17 and starts to go to school in the same place as everyone else. Eventually, Amber and her father meet face-to-face... She sees he hasn't changed and freaks out.<br />
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On top of that, she finds out that she didn't wait long enough to have unprotected sex with the birth control and that she's pregnant. She and Liam agree to keep the baby, but to wait for things to settle down first before sharing with everyone.<br />
<br />
Well they never really get much of a chance, because Amber's father punches her in the stomach, causing her to miscarry. Liam goes batshit insane and starts attacking her father, and I agree that that man needs it so much. Eventually Jake gets him away from the guy who deserves to be killed because Amber's hurt and is calling for him. She gets to the hospital and has to have surgery... The next day, the police come to arrest Liam because Amber's father decided to press charges. This leads to Amber discharging herself out of the hospital, but eventually getting her father to drop the charges and leave. Jake eventually gets her and takes her home, and everything's alright.<br />
<br />
Let's make one more leap to five years later. It's the day of Amber's graduation from college. Liam's almost late to her graduation, but he's not. By the end of the night, she has her own dance studio (since her degree is in something to do with dance), and she has a fiancee.<br />
<br />
And that's the end of the book.<br />
<br />
So I gave this book 5 stars on goodreads. I wish they'd have half stars because I'd give it 4.5 stars instead. xD It's not the most perfectly written book, but I did some research into it. The author had it on Wattpad for two years before publishing it... It's great because most Wattpad authors aren't the best. I loved the story, I just want more. But overall, a good lazy Sunday read. xD<br />
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Gonna go fix the theme and do homework now. xx<br />
Have a good day! Happy reading!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645055516205338307.post-43367274440797079532013-10-27T14:11:00.000-04:002013-10-27T14:11:05.846-04:00Update.Hey, everyone... Well, if anyone's still out there anyway. xD<br />
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I'm backkk. I haven't been here since my Vampire Academy movie update in May. There's so much stuff going on with that, but you can check google. There's a bunch of stuff happening with it, and the release date is still Valentine's day 2014. xD<br /><br />
So what have I been up to since May? A lot of things have happened, and I don't care to talk about many of them. But, I did get into Supernatural. I really love that show and MOOSE IS <i style="text-decoration: line-through;">FINE</i>... uh... er.. I.. I mean... <i>mine.</i> :look:<br />
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Anyway, I haven't actually read that much over the past few months. Mostly I've been focused on watching more than reading, which is out of character for me.. But I have two books I've read recently that I'm going to review. One I just finished reading, the other was finished last week.<br />
<br />
So, just wanted to let everyone know that I'm alive. And I'll fix the theme, too. But after the review and that, I have to get to homework because I've been in school, too. xD Gotta play the bassoon later, 'cause I get graded on the F major scale on Tuesday. I've only touched the bassoon once before, so it's pretty clear that I need to practice. xD<br />
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Hope you're all well. I mean, the four followers I do have... I've barely talked to any of you all semester, so feel free to owl me, tweet me, or whatever... And we can talk. xD<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645055516205338307.post-23502031944300824282013-05-12T15:59:00.001-04:002013-05-12T15:59:49.542-04:00Happy Mother's Day!If you're a mom, or a mom-to-be, I wish you a happy mother's day. Thank you for all you do for your kids, and the kids of others. Have a nice day. :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645055516205338307.post-49217315294735807902013-05-12T02:07:00.000-04:002013-05-12T02:07:19.710-04:00Willow Reads: Fall of Night (Morganville Vampires #14) by Rachel Caine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheT_ABwVMvZMvfXX-O_tMC5OMEG7d_DyWPtsd8IIndwkLWMpDujO6jKAovgcaW-j9Bk1-MQQx2DpJeegVSRcw0AI5cBm1rMQ6cPpFQAALwhdAK1IHT5t1aIurZBsfVix7lZYHxUhMcIWfz/s1600/15739817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheT_ABwVMvZMvfXX-O_tMC5OMEG7d_DyWPtsd8IIndwkLWMpDujO6jKAovgcaW-j9Bk1-MQQx2DpJeegVSRcw0AI5cBm1rMQ6cPpFQAALwhdAK1IHT5t1aIurZBsfVix7lZYHxUhMcIWfz/s400/15739817.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><strong style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Thanks to its unique combination of human and vampire residents, Morganville, Texas, is a small college town with big-time problems. When student Claire Danvers gets the chance to experience life on the outside, she takes it. But Morganville isn’t the only town with vampire trouble...</strong><br style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Claire never thought she’d leave Morganville, but when she gets accepted into the graduate program at MIT, she can’t pass up the opportunity. Saying good-bye to her friends is bittersweet, especially since things are still raw and unsettled between Claire and her boyfriend, Shane. </span><br style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Her new life at MIT is scary and exciting, but Morganville is never really far from Claire’s mind. Enrolled in a special advanced study program with Professor Irene Anderson, a former Morganville native, Claire is able to work on her machine, which is designed to cancel the mental abilities of vampires. </span><br style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">But when she begins testing her machine on live subjects, things quickly spiral out of control, and Claire starts to wonder whether leaving Morganville was the last mistake she’ll ever make.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">Title: Fall of Night (Morganville Vampires #14)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">Author: Rachel Caine</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">Page Count: 352 Pages</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">Book website: http://morganvilletexas.com</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">Published: May 7, 2013</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">Source: LOVE MORGANVILLLLE <3</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">Spoilers Ahead</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.99305534362793px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">No matter what mood I'm in, I can always settle for a new Morganville book. I'm sad that we're almost to the end of the series. This is probably one of my top five favorite series- in a list that includes Harry Potter (my top favorite) and Vampire Academy (probably my second favorite tied with Morganville). But this one was different than the previous 13. This book really challenged whether my favorite couple- Claire and Shane- would ever be back together again. So of course it made me sad, but the book didn't lack anything any other book in this series promised. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.99305534362793px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">The book starts out with Claire leaving the Glass house before anyone wakes up- she's going to MIT to study and her parents are meeting her at the outskirts of the town. Myrnin is there and he says goodbye, but eventually Shane and crew show up. Admittedly this part made me cry because Shane's trying to convince Claire not to go and I'm reading the book... Just wishing with all my heart that he would just go with her or she'd just decide not to go. But, after the last book, I can understand why she wants to go. Not only does she want to study and grow, Shane honestly believed that Claire and Michael were doing stuff behind his and Eve's backs. Honestly? So Claire wants to show Shane that this was serious and that he can't just lack that faith in her and in their relationship.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">I <i>am</i> happy that she promised that she'll keep her promise to marry him someday. THAT BETTER HAPPEN, RACHEL CAINE! We need some wedding happening, and some married life. So you better be planning that, yo. But anyway, this book was mostly sad for me as a huge Claire/Shane shipper. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.99305534362793px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">When she moves away from Morganville, Claire moves in with Elizabeth, a character that hasn't been mentioned since the first few books of the series. Liz doesn't go to MIT, but she goes to a school somewhere around there, so they decide to become housemates. Surprisingly, Liz has changed a lot since Claire left her hometown, and is nothing like she used to be in high school. Claire quickly grows to hate living under the same roof, but doesn't want to leave Liz short on rent money... So she just decides to stay and wait it out. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.99305534362793px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">Well then a whole bunch of stuff happens. Shane follows Claire to MIT, but doesn't let her know that she's there. He ends up getting a job at a bar, and the entire time I was dreading when she'd find out. He couldn't stay a few towns over? I guess it's a good thing later, but when someone's mad at you and just needs space... You don't get a job close to where that person lives. And let's see.. Liz has a stalker ex boyfriend. And there were some other times when I was reduced to tears- having to do with Myrnin mostly. But in the end... The ending was the worst part. If you do not want to know how this book ends- stop reading. Now. After this paragraph break, there's going to be a huge spoiler. And I'm still not sure what to make of it. Ready?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.99305534362793px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">There's a bit in the book where Eve and Michael also travel, Oliver and Myrnin make their way in, and then there's a new character who comes back to Morganville. So Claire and crew get back to Morganville, with Hannah Moses waiting on them. For some reason, she has the humans handcuffed and... All of a sudden... They shoot the vampires with wooden arrows. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.99305534362793px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.99305534362793px;"><i>Morganville has been completely taken over by humans.</i> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.99305534362793px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">Yeah, I'm not sure what to make of that one either. Guess we get to wait until the next book, which is due out in November. Which, to remind some of you... is also the final book of the series. This has me sad, this book better be as big as four of the regular ones. And then I'll still want more. Hopefully Rachel Caine writes this one and is like "NO. It's not done! 20 MORE BOOKS!" </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.99305534362793px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">I doubt that though. Maybe another 10? ;) Oh well.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.99305534362793px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">Happy Reading!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.99305534362793px;"><br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645055516205338307.post-66609936244184474662013-05-12T00:42:00.000-04:002013-05-12T00:42:26.362-04:00Willow Reads: Gone by Michael Grant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgniAeLSqA9an65L8EGFyHPu8mQUEURg1sCcNjUJoqNJ6XTwjv0psRljqfTr1wO4sO-TTPc_q9djFmX7UROKmiekvo-7LkcY-cRVJCiwF5fSFF9ZglbkhkKvMbjpEm_BFLiDntYO3aPc7dV/s1600/2536134.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/AVvXsEgniAeLSqA9an65L8EGFyHPu8mQUEURg1sCcNjUJoqNJ6XTwjv0psRljqfTr1wO4sO-TTPc_q9djFmX7UROKmiekvo-7LkcY-cRVJCiwF5fSFF9ZglbkhkKvMbjpEm_BFLiDntYO3aPc7dV/s320/2536134.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">In the blink of an eye. Everyone disappears. GONE.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not one single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents--unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers--that grow stronger by the day.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Title: Gone (Gone #1)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Author: Michael Grant</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">Page Count: 558 pages</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">Book Website: </span></span><a href="http://themichaelgrant.com/gone/">http://themichaelgrant.com/gone/</a><br />
Published: June 24, 2008<br />
Source: Re-read<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Spoilers Ahead- Beware. :)</b></span><br />
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I first picked this book up when I was 16 years old and couldn't put it down. At the time, this book was a stand-alone, and I remember finishing it and being so mad that there wasn't a new one out. Then I moved on to other books and later found out it had been turned into a six-book series. So, I'm reading it all and I had to re-establish the beginning of the story. I had to remember everything before I could move on, right?<br />
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Gone is set in Perdido Beach, California. One day in this fictional town, everyone over the age of 15 just disappears... Teachers, parents, grandparents. And right along with them, phone reception, internet access, and television broadcast is cut off. So, of course, kids are scared and all literal hell breaks loose. Kids are scared, hungry, and looking for someone to ensure that they'll be ok.. And that their parents will be back soon. Because they have to come back, right?<br />
<br />
Enter Sam Temple, also known as School Bus Sam after he saved an entire bus full of classmates when the driver went into a heart attack- by taking control of the bus and calling the police on the driver's phone. After the event cooled down, Sam backed away from the attention, because he really didn't like it. After the adults disappear, though, kids naturally flock to him with their questions... Obviously he's just as confused as they are and doesn't know what to do.<br />
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Eventually bullies take over Perdido Beach... Which they have now nicknamed as the FAYZ- Fallout Valley Youth Zone- and there's a general struggle throughout the book about who should lead and who does what. Obviously, something has to be done- food perishes, and what are they going to do? Especially after they find a glass wall surrounding the town that burns at the smallest touch and won't break when someone throws something at it. And, like any other book that I like reading, there's a little romance in there.<br />
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I find this book so interesting because it's an idea of what would happen in this situation. Did I enjoy this book as much as the first time around? No, I think that I've read better written books. But I still want to know what's happening, and I'm well into the second book by this point. :) It's not much of a read if you like the classics, but if you like bigger books that don't require much thought... This is a good read for you.<br />
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Happy Reading!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645055516205338307.post-49807914717798859962013-03-30T18:53:00.001-04:002013-03-30T18:53:12.683-04:00RIP Richard Griffiths<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Rest in Peace, Mr. Richard Griffiths</b></div>
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As a Harry Potter fanatic, I had to make a post about the passing of Richard Griffiths. If you do not know him, he played Uncle Vernon Dursley in the Harry Potter films, but did a lot of work before that as well. He passed due to complications from heart surgery. </div>
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Sir, you will be missed. Rest in peace. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645055516205338307.post-56429556241330591232013-03-30T18:29:00.000-04:002013-03-30T18:29:24.273-04:00Willow Reads (18+ Series): Captive in the Dark- C.J. Roberts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-mlqBYPXMe-6iRtFgkeMCImH6VLbFAdEEMYdTb03Dtby5PsqEHhgFv1XxqN_Ldoahl6kaxgiau1sNf3EoUqcnc0k5hYhZx3foxfT_MFViZaCwceMRF_rg7DlcAGUjlmxulTlHpuYYprT/s1600/12513614.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/AVvXsEjl-mlqBYPXMe-6iRtFgkeMCImH6VLbFAdEEMYdTb03Dtby5PsqEHhgFv1XxqN_Ldoahl6kaxgiau1sNf3EoUqcnc0k5hYhZx3foxfT_MFViZaCwceMRF_rg7DlcAGUjlmxulTlHpuYYprT/s320/12513614.jpg" width="243" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Caleb is a man with a singular interest in revenge. Kidnapped as a young boy and sold into slavery by a power-hungry mobster, he has thought of nothing but vengeance. For twelve years he has immersed himself in the world of pleasure slaves searching for the one man he holds ultimately responsible. Finally, the architect of his suffering has emerged with a new identity, but not a new nature. If Caleb is to get close enough to strike, he must become the very thing he abhors and kidnap a beautiful girl to train her to be all that he once was.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Eighteen-year-old Olivia Ruiz has just woken up in a strange place. Blindfolded and bound, there is only a calm male voice to welcome her. His name is Caleb, though he demands to be called Master. Olivia is young, beautiful, </span><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">naive</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> and willful to a fault. She has a dark sensuality that cannot be hidden or denied, though she tries to accomplish both. Although she is frightened by the strong, sadistic, and arrogant man who holds her prisoner, what keeps Olivia awake in the dark is her unwelcome attraction to him.</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">WARNING: This book contains very disturbing situations, dubious consent, strong language, and graphic violence.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">Title: Captive in the Dark (Dark Duet #1)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">Author: C.J. Roberts</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">Page Count: 159 pages</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">Book Website: http://www.aboutcjroberts.com</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">Published: July 20, 2011</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">Source: Goodreads</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">A few months ago I was on Goodreads looking through book suggestions and this book came up in the Chick Lit section. I read the description and wasn't sure I wanted to go there but I thought it might be interesting, so I put it on my to-read list just in case I ever wanted something different. So that's where I'm coming from w</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">ith this book. Of course I've read material like this before, it's nothing new. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">I can hear the activists and feminists</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;"> now. "THIS IS NOT RIGHT. WHY ARE YOU READING THIS BOOK (AND OTHERS) THAT DEMEAN WOMEN?" Well, it's fiction, dears. So suck it up and go away if you don't like this review. Feel free to come back for any of the other reviews though. :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">Anyway, so after finishing the third Beautiful Creatures book two nights ago (which I will not be reviewing because it was so boring and wouldn't be interesting enough to write about), I wanted something new. Something different. I went into my goodreads to-read shelf and here we go. Something different. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">This book was... wow. I liked it but I'm not sure how I felt about it. It was a short book, and half the time I was questioning if I had gone too far. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">Pretty much, the book opens with a lot of description- and then Caleb kidnaps Olivia, takes her away from her life, and abandons her in a dark room. He won't call her anything but "pet," which infuriates her, and she doesn't even know how to handle the situation. Eventually she's able to leave the dark room and such, but she's still held against her will. And that's the battle throughout the entire book. Olivia is like "He's going to rape me and kill me, so I have to escape." and then Caleb acts sweet to her (which I'm not really seeing much of as she's saying it- only one time did I see the sweetness), and she's like "Oh why should I leave?" Caleb literally breaks her down from the strong person she once was. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">But she finally gets the chance to escape, makes plans to get back into the US (she found out she was in Mexico), and ends up right back where she started- BUT with serious injuries. It eventually leads to Caleb telling Olivia that he's selling her into the sex trade. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">This entire book had me at an inner debate, though. All the signs of abusive relationships are there. Being isolated from others, physical and mental abuse, that sort of thing. I was hoping, though, that Caleb would come around and leave his dangerous life for love or something. Totally didn't happen. xD So now that I'm finished with this one and on to the second in the book, you sort of wonder if it's going to happen but you know it probably won't. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">Gave it 3 stars on Goodreads. xD You can read it for yourself, see what you think. :)</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645055516205338307.post-62153954331199626122013-03-06T16:56:00.000-05:002013-03-06T16:56:20.848-05:00Willow Reads: The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQOmpWRpLAxWj-wgzvXlpGdc8QBr_vRAKKwWcQwgkn0Regebv3G5aDQepU9Eog9Ehe2x3hJ7Jtk8l3-PxX9oDFAyDjAOwuhF3PyzngHOA_olcEown9okMGft1_RuSeJVQVkv1Ixhv2kkm/s1600/8709526.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/AVvXsEhwQOmpWRpLAxWj-wgzvXlpGdc8QBr_vRAKKwWcQwgkn0Regebv3G5aDQepU9Eog9Ehe2x3hJ7Jtk8l3-PxX9oDFAyDjAOwuhF3PyzngHOA_olcEown9okMGft1_RuSeJVQVkv1Ixhv2kkm/s1600/8709526.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, the Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive—this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone’s out for blood</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Spoiler Alert</span><br />
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Title: The Indigo Spell (Book 3 of the Bloodlines series)<br />
Author: Richelle Mead<br />
Page Count: 401 pages<br />
Book website: http://www.richellemead.com<br />
Published: Feb. 12, 2013<br />
Source: Long time obsession with VA and now Bloodlines.<br />
<br />
So we're back to more Richelle Mead news. Another book release shortly after movie information... Well that's good! I've been dying to read this book and it doesn't disappoint. You know it's good when a dedicated student drops everything to read like 85% of a book in one sitting.Which I did. Yesterday. I didn't study for some midterms, but I think they both went well. Anyway, back to the point.<br />
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THE SYDRIAN FEELS. If you don't know what Sydrian is, why are you even here? So go read <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8709527-bloodlines">Bloodlines</a>, or even better the whole beginning six books before it starting with <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/345627.Vampire_Academy">Vampire Academy</a>. I'll give you a moment to exit out so you don't get a whole bunch of stuff you're not ready for. Go on. See ya later, gator!<br />
<br />
...<br />
...<br />
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OK! Now that those people who don't know why the heck they were here in the first place are gone, let's get down to business.<br />
<br />
So what happened in this book that would be interesting enough to highlight?<br />
Well, first. There's definitely some Sydney magic accepting going on. She actually looks into running away from the Alchemists to "break" her Golden Lily tattoo so she can, get this...<br />
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<ol><ol><ol><ol>
<li>Be with Adrian- who she FINALLY starts admitting to loving. Not just like, but <i>love.</i> There are some make out sessions. Some really cute moments, too. </li>
<li>Improve on her magic skills, which she begins to really rely on for self defense. </li>
<li>Continue to be friends with Eddie, Jill, and Angeline. Angeline's still crazy wacky, by the way.</li>
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Also, Sydrian and Adrian have a baby. I'm not lying. Read it for yourself. Chapter 17. It might not exactly be what you think, but seriously, get to it! </div>
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There's so much in this book, and I hope you take the time to love it as much as I do. I cannot WAIT for Richelle Mead's next installment of this series- The Fiery Heart, coming out November 19 of this year.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645055516205338307.post-11788440768204687242013-01-27T12:51:00.001-05:002013-01-27T12:51:30.820-05:00Willow Reads: Beautiful Creatures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTsX5i-HtJ_8-tP99HWA-nIYaWD9wAe714Fhj2nIZRo6RwqWJVhI7Wepu6ZDFcmpfHCc5XBGAtor9gurSSZA9IGlEPtfoUrGVR2jFD6OsXrVzJNQ04s1HWnX357OL4F2wSHFk1rCZWro_9/s1600/6304335.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/AVvXsEiTsX5i-HtJ_8-tP99HWA-nIYaWD9wAe714Fhj2nIZRo6RwqWJVhI7Wepu6ZDFcmpfHCc5XBGAtor9gurSSZA9IGlEPtfoUrGVR2jFD6OsXrVzJNQ04s1HWnX357OL4F2wSHFk1rCZWro_9/s320/6304335.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7;">Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7;">In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span>
Title: Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles #1)<br />
Authors: Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl<br />
Page Count: 563 pages<br />
Book Website: http://beautifulcreaturesnovels.com/<br />
Published: December 1, 2009<br />
Source: I can't even remember, it's been on my to-read list for ages.<br />
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This book was good. I kind of have an "Ok, that's good." kind of feeling about it, but it's not something I'd obsess over. It wasn't anything too negative, and there were times where I just wanted to stop school and read- I felt that pull.. But it wasn't anything too amazing. I picked it up because the movie is coming out on Valentine's Day, so I wanted to know what it's about. I won't see it on the 14th of next month, but maybe the weekend after? Anyway, let's get down to it.<br />
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First, what got me for a minute there is that the main character is <i>male</i>. Watch out for that if you haven't read the book yet- Ethan Wate is the narrator. It's not clear in the beginning, but you eventually get it.<br />
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In this book, pretty much- in a sort of Twilight-esque way- a new girl comes to a small town. Gatlin is such a small place where news travels so quickly, just like Forks, Washington. What makes this different? Everyone seems to hate Lena Duchannes ( Lee-nuh Doo-chan-ay; for those like me who had problems getting it), compared to everyone loving Bella Swan in Twilight. Enough with the comparisons though.<br />
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Ethan is the only one really to see Lena as a beautiful person for being different, because he's one of the only ones who has ever wanted out of Gatlin. So they become friends and later, boyfriend/girlfriend. You don't really have a YA book targeted at females without some sort of romance these days.<br />
<br />
It's going to be a good movie, and I'm currently on the second book.<br />
So go read!<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645055516205338307.post-91152272630536853882013-01-27T11:41:00.001-05:002013-01-27T12:51:42.191-05:00The Liebster Blog AwardHi, guys! I know it's been a while since I've written anything for books here, but a post is coming in a bit. Anyway, I was nominated for the Liebster Blog Award.<br />
<br />
If you don't know what the Liebster Blog Award is, it's this award given to bloggers who have less than 200 followers. If you're nominated, there are four steps:<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
1. You thank the person who nominated you and you provide a link to their blog on your blog<br />
2. Your nominator has put 11 questions for you to answer. Answer them. Then tell 11 facts about yourself.<br />
3. Leave 11 questions on your blog for the 11 people that you nominated to answer.<br />
4. Pass on this award to 11 other blogs whom you feel are deserving for this award. Leave a comment on their blog that you have nominated them.</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">-Thanks to <a href="http://vintagesorrow.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Shana</a> for this description. :)</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So, first off- thank you Shana at <a href="http://vintagesorrow.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Vintage Sorrow</a> for nominating me. She's my only follower here, but I know more people see my posts due to stats. I'm happy she wanted to bring some spotlight to my blog. ^.^ Thank you, thank you, thank you. :)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Here are the questions that she's left me:</span></b></u></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">1. Why did you start blogging?</span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I wanted to keep track of what I was reading and how I felt after finishing the books. It's hard to remember what parts you liked the most and what happened in a series when you have to wait a year until the next book comes out. My blog is sort of just that- and I don't mind that people are reading my thoughts. I just have lots of spoilers and that's one thing I warn new followers about. </span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></b>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2. How would you describe your blog?</span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Just a kind of book blog. Nothing spectacular. I'm a college student, so it's not the most frequent with posting. I try to keep to just blogging books, but I've been thinking about doing some movies posts, too. Changing it up a little. </span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></b>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">3. What is your biggest fear?</span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Losing those I love. A lot of the people I care about are online friends, people I can't just go see because they live in a different city, state, country, or even a different continent! But I love these people so much, they're my best friends and I don't want to drop the contact. </span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">4. If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?</span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Anything would get old though. Hmmm... I'm not sure. Maybe fettuccine alfredo with spinach leaves and mushrooms in it. I love the sauce. </span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">5. Apple or orange?</span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I honestly like both. Right now apples sound better though. So I guess apple. </span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">6. Which is your all time (favorite/favourite) book?</span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">This is a hard question to answer. I love books so much. My favorite series is the Harry Potter series, but as far as choosing just one book? I can't. </span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">7. What is one change that you want to see in the world?</span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I would love to see greed end. If the world dropped greed, people wouldn't be hungry, people could get an education, people could make more out of themselves and their lives. A lot of people are too busy saying "MINE! MINE! MINE!" all the time, that there are those who go hungry, who can't provide for their families, who drop out of school to help their families out. It's not cool.</span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">8. What place would you like to visit that you haven’t been to yet?</span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I would loveeee to visit other countries- England and Scotland come to my mind first as top places. But just to start simple, I'd love to go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Florida. It's in my same country and I don't need extra shots or a passport! </span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></b>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">9. If you can go to lunch with four historical figures, who would they be?</span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">This would be interesting. Beethoven, Mozart, Vivaldi, and Bach. It'd be interesting musical conversation, seeing as Beethoven and Mozart are from around the same time, and Vivaldi and Bach are from a completely different era. It might not be so pretty, kind of like politics talk. But I feel, as a musician, I'd learn a lot. I know they aren't traditional historical figures like, say, Martin Luther King, Jr. or George Washington, but they're historical figures to me.</span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">10. Which magazine(s) do you enjoy reading?</span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I don't read magazines. </span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">11. What is your dream job?</span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Teaching string orchestra to middle school-aged students. I'm working on it!</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></i></b>
<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Now, 11 facts about me...</span></b></u><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">I'm only 4 ft. 9.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">I'm a music education major in college, and I play the violin.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">I'm learning piano, tuba, and clarinet right now. By the end of the semester I'll also know trombone, euphonium, and alto saxophone. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">The first "big book" I ever read was <i>"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." </i>I read the Potter books out of order the first time through, but I was young enough not to care. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">I have three dogs. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">I have an obsession with bedding. I love having my huge comfy bed to go to at night after a long day at school. It's niceeee. Oh, and unless I say you can come sit on it, you can't. It bothers me to know other people get on my bed. I'm OCD when it comes to my bed. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">My Harry Potter stuff takes up two shelves of my four shelf bookshelf. And I still have more Potter stuff, but it's just in other spots.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">I love Lindsey Stirling- she's a violinist who composes her own music as well as covers for the violin, then choreographs dances to them. She then directs music videos for youtube, and publishes them there. She has a CD out, too. Plus I'm going to see her in March- one of her concerts in Ohio! ^.^</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"> I have two sisters. Because of my height and everything, normally everyone thinks I'm the youngest, but I'm the middle child.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">I love food. More than I probably should.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">I had a huge Twilight phase when I was 15/16 years old. I still like them now, but I'm not huge into them. </span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Questions for my nominees:</span></b></u></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">If you could sum what your blog is about up in three words, what would they be?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">What are your favorite fandoms? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Top three favorite foods?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Top three favorite movies?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Top three favorite books?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">What is your most-visited website?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">What's one weird thing you can do? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rant about one thing for as long as you can. What bothers you?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">What's your favorite season?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Do you like/dislike sports? If like, what do you do. If dislike, what do you like?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">What's your favorite color?</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Nominees</u></b></span></div>
</div>
<div>
I hate to do this, but I couldn't find more than a few blogs after about an hour's search with less than 200 followers. So, here are the three I found:</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://http//vintagesorrow.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Vintage Sorrow</a> (I know she already nominated me, but any chance of her getting more followers is nice.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://caseyscrew.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Casey's Crew</a> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.potterblogger.com/" target="_blank">Potter Blogger</a> </span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">If I find more, I'll make another post. :)</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645055516205338307.post-8856850300124346812013-01-14T22:03:00.001-05:002013-01-14T22:03:38.181-05:00An update. Hi people who may or may not be reading this!<br />
<br />
First off- Happy New Year! I've been meaning to make a post saying something like this recently, but school started back up. I'm two weeks late but better late than never, right?<br />
<br />
Second- sorry I haven't gotten much done as far as blogging goes! I've not been able to read anything since my last post really, but I'm working on the first Beautiful Creatures book by Kami Garcia. This past week has been beyond nuts, involving car troubles and starting out new instruments and the like. Typical music major stuff. Hopefully I'll be able to read more, but I'm trying to get a good foundation on these new instruments. :)<br />
<br />
Third- You are all awesome, keep reading, and hang on in there. :)<br />
I'll make new posts as soon as I possibly can, this craziness can't go on forever!<br />
<br />
Have a good morning/afternoon/evening/night, wherever you are!<br />
~WillsUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645055516205338307.post-72534454262399222962012-12-26T16:33:00.001-05:002012-12-26T16:33:25.355-05:00Willow Reads (18+ Series): Wallbanger by Alice Clayton<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Caroline Reynolds has a fantastic new apartment in San Francisco, a KitchenAid mixer, and no O (and we’re not talking Oprah here, folks). She has a flourishing design career, an office overlooking the bay, a killer zucchini bread recipe, and no O. She has Clive (the best cat ever), great friends, a great rack, and no O.</span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Adding insult to O-less, since her move, she has an oversexed neighbor with the loudest late-night wallbanging she’s ever heard. Each moan, spank, and--was that a meow?--punctuates the fact that not only is she losing sleep, she still has, yep, you guessed it, no O.</span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Enter Simon Parker. (No, really, Simon, please enter.) When the wallbanging threatens to literally bounce her out of bed, Caroline, clad in sexual frustration and a pink baby-doll nightie, confronts her heard-but-never-seen neighbor. Their late-night hallway encounter has, well, mixed results. Ahem. With walls this thin, the tension’s gonna be thick...</span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #a64d79;">In her third novel, Alice Clayton returns to dish her trademark mix of silly and steamy. Banter, barbs, and strutting pussycats, plus the sexiest apple pie ever made, are dunked in a hot tub and set against the gorgeous San Francisco skyline in this hot and hilarious tale of exasperation at first sight.</span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span>
Not many spoilers here. :)<br />
<br />
Title: Wallbanger<br />
Author: Alice Clayton<br />
Page Count: 300 pages<br />
Book Website: http://aliceclayton.com/books/wallbanger/<br />
Published: November 27, 2012<br />
Source: Goodreads suggestion<br />
<br />
Before this book, I had never read an Alice Clayton book before and with this description, I was instantly doubting the hilarity. Ever read those kinds of books where the description is like <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"THIS IS THE MOST FUNNY BOOK EVER! THIS BOOK IS SEXY AND FUNNY AT THE SAME TIME!"</span></i> and it dies out really quickly? It doesn't live up to the description? Well that wasn't this book at all.<br />
<br />
We open the book with Caroline being annoyed about the guy in the room who shares the same bedroom wall in the apartment building... He's sleeping with someone, and banging something- the girl, the bed, something- against the wall. It's really annoying. This happens over and over and over again for weeks- with only brief times of silence. It gets tot he point where Caroline is spying out of her door's eye hole to get a look at this guy. And then one night... Wearing her pink nightie, Caroline rushes out of her apartment and starts angrily banging on his door. And that's what starts it all.<br />
<br />
I don't want to give away the book in this post, so please get it and read it. It's a very hilarious book, and I so totally love it. I'll probably be reading Clayton's books in the near future, but I think I'm going to read a more friendly to younger people book now that I've done two 18+ series books in a row.<br />
<br />
Oh, and also, I hope everyone's holiday was great! I had a nice Christmas myself, and the day was amazing. :)<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645055516205338307.post-15623015008618348482012-12-10T21:39:00.001-05:002012-12-10T21:39:32.484-05:00Willow Reads (18+ Series): Love Unrehearsed by Tina Reber<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">There is no rehearsal for true love.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">When A-list film actor Ryan Christensen ducked into her pub to escape his screaming fans, never in a million years did Taryn Mitchell think her life was about to change forever. But now, eight months later, after a whirlwind romance, Taryn wakes up in Ryan’s Hollywood hotel room to find a diamond to die for on her left ring finger—and her face splashed across the cover of every gossip magazine.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Ryan’s very public proposal is catnip to the tabloids, his management team is worried, and Taryn must figure out how a small town girl like her fits into his glittering world. What does it take to make a relationship work amidst telephoto lenses, daily on-set temptations, and jealous fans who will stop at nothing to keep you from walking down the aisle with the man of your dreams?</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">With no script to follow and no chance for a dress rehearsal, Taryn and Ryan will be forced to take the plunge and risk everything to make their love last.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Spoilers ahead!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Also note: This book is for mature audiences only.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
Title: Love Unrehearsed (Love Unscripted #2)<br />
Author: Tina Reber<br />
Page Count: 400 pages<br />
Book Website: http://tinareber.com<br />
Published: September 14, 2012<br />
Source: Continuation of a series.<br />
<br />
... Wow.<br />
I'm sort of in that denial stage. The book is over already? Sure, it's not a 700 paged book like Love Unscripted- thanks to editing. STUPID EDITING. <strike>-throws a huge dictionary at the editor, but you saw nothing- </strike><br />
<br />
Anywho, this book was absolutely red hot. The first book would be ok for maybe 16 or 17 years old, I'd say, when compared to this one. This one would have to wait, because there is so much sex content here. But it wasn't badly written, in my opinion, and I didn't mind it. I was actually happy for it to happen because I love Ryan and Taryn so much.<br />
<br />
There were twists in this book, sure. I never expected the divorce that happened. BUT I also didn't expect the weddings that did happen. Yes, weddingS, as in more than one. :D And a surprise engagement toward the end. ^.^<br />
<br />
Really, though, this book was good.<br />
I really enjoyed it.<br />
<br />
ANDRYANANDTARYNHADABABYBOYOMGSOCUTE!<br />
:D<br />
<br />
I can't wait to see if there's another book in this series, but I'm not sure she will. This seemed pretty final... and surprisingly... I'm ok with it. They got their happy endings, and that's what I love.<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645055516205338307.post-33505916036594439612012-12-05T19:39:00.000-05:002012-12-05T19:43:23.985-05:00(18+ Series) Love Unrehearsed Chapter 1!I was on Tina Reber's website out of boredom and this came up! :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
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<div style="text-align: left; width: 420px;">
<a href="http://issuu.com/tinareber/docs/flip_book_file_lu2_6x9/7" target="_blank">Open publication</a> - Free <a href="http://issuu.com/" target="_blank">publishing</a></div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
Need more?
<a href="http://tinareber.com/books-2/love-unrehearsed-2/2-purchase-lu2/">Buy the book</a>!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645055516205338307.post-59785521847850327692012-12-05T19:22:00.001-05:002012-12-05T19:22:17.247-05:00Willow Reads: The False Princess<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;">Princess and heir to the throne of Thorvaldor, Nalia's led a privileged life at court. But everything changes when it's revealed, just after her sixteenth birthday, that she is a false princess, a stand-in for the real Nalia, who has been hidden away for her protection. Cast out with little more than the clothes on her back, the girl now called Sinda must leave behind the city of Vivaskari, her best friend, Keirnan, and the only life she's ever known.</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7;">Sinda is sent to live with her only surviving relative, an aunt who is a dyer in a distant village. She is a cold, scornful woman with little patience for her newfound niece, and Sinda proves inept at even the simplest tasks. But when Sinda discovers that magic runs through her veins - long-suppressed, dangerous magic that she must learn to control - she realizes that she can never learn to be a simple village girl.</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7;">Returning to Vivaskari for answers, Sinda finds her purpose as a wizard scribe, rediscovers the boy who saw her all along, and uncovers a secret that could change the course of Thorvaldor's history, forever.</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7;">A dazzling first novel, The False Princess is an engrossing fantasy full of mystery, action, and romance.</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span>
Spoilers- but not very many.<br />
<br />
Title: The False Princess<br />
Author: Eilis O'Neal<br />
Page Count: 319 pages<br />
Book Website: http://www.eilisoneal.com/<br />
Published: January 25, 2011<br />
Source: Goodreads suggestion<br />
<br />
This is one of those books Goodreads suggested that I didn't really care for. I gave it only two stars on Goodreads, which by definition means that it was ok. Nothing spectacular, not in any sense.<br />
<br />
First, I felt that the book could be better researched. You really don't get the time period out of the whole thing, but with how the outfits were described and how the royal system came about... People didn't talk like they do today way back when. Sure, magic and such wasn't involved back then, but people still didn't talk that way.<br />
<br />
Second... The whole false princess idea was ok, but then when they switched Sinda with Orrianne, then Sinda goes and says that Orrianne isn't the real princess, and goes on this hunt for the real princess... It's too much.<br />
<br />
Maybe it's just a little too young for me. Normally I'm more than happy with the books my younger friends who range from 12-15 might actually read... But this just wasn't very good, even for that age range. If you're just looking for a kind of dumbed down, no thought read, then this is for you.<br />
<br />
Anyway, happy reading!<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645055516205338307.post-58718385281479617792012-11-27T14:59:00.000-05:002012-12-05T19:05:11.227-05:00Willow Reads: Easy by Tammara Webber<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPwuDMa1S2V7f_4JnsKrZta8m5DVnroIcxZOGaqTGRMUOODdCO8T2XMOxG6LUKxpMTTNmy29Kc-r57zCaHekN2EZBHRxfXBvsIAyvoIBeY2-K4m_Q03edfSMoSCAly0TRHR8zivLxIy-x/s1600/14475552.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/AVvXsEhVPwuDMa1S2V7f_4JnsKrZta8m5DVnroIcxZOGaqTGRMUOODdCO8T2XMOxG6LUKxpMTTNmy29Kc-r57zCaHekN2EZBHRxfXBvsIAyvoIBeY2-K4m_Q03edfSMoSCAly0TRHR8zivLxIy-x/s320/14475552.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">A girl who believes trust can be misplaced, promises are made to be broken, and loyalty is an illusion. A boy who believes truth is relative, lies can mask unbearable pain, and guilt is eternal. Will what they find in each other validate their conclusions, or disprove them all?</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup two months into sophomore year. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she's single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, and failing a class for the first time in her life.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Leaving a party alone, Jacqueline is assaulted by her ex's frat brother. Rescued by a stranger who seems to be in the right place at the right time, she wants nothing more than to forget the attack and that night--but her savior, Lucas, sits on the back row of her econ class, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. Her friends nominate him to be the perfect rebound.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">When her attacker turns stalker, Jacqueline has a choice: crumple in defeat or learn to fight back. Lucas remains protective, but he's hiding secrets of his own. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy.</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">Note: This book is mature YA, so please be aware there is sexual content in this book. It's not a lot, and it's not the majority of the book- not enough so for it to be 18+. </span></h2>
<h2>
SPOILER ALERT!</h2>
<div>
Title: Easy</div>
<div>
Author: Tammara Webber</div>
<div>
Page Count: 230 pages (ebook)</div>
<div>
Book Website: http://tammarawebber.blogspot.com/</div>
<div>
Published: May 25, 2012</div>
<div>
Source: Goodreads suggestion</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Goodreads has done it again. It's creepily accurate in finding reads I'll absolutely love, and gahhh. This book didn't even take me 24 hours to read. Even though it's only 230 pages, it's the last two weeks of my college semester- how did I even find the time? xDD </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So anyway, this book.. Amazing. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Jacqueline (J*) Wallace is in her second year of college as a music education major <strike>(</strike><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strike>MUAHAHAHAHA! THERE ARE BOOKS ABOUT US NOW! WORLD DOMINATION! )</strike> </span>when her boyfriend of three years, Kennedy, decides he wants to see other people. He lets her down hard, instead of easy, and of course after a three year relationship... It sort of sucks; of course she's heartbroken. She doesn't know what to do, she gets behind in school work and avoids him by skipping classes that she only took to be with him. In fact, she only chose that university for the reason that he would be there. So now she's starting to regret that, because she easily could have gone to a music conservatory and did more with her life.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
One night, a few weeks after Kennedy broke it off, J's roommate Erin forces her to go to this Halloween party- J's the designated driver. So she goes and decides after a while that she wanted to leave, texting Erin to let her know just to text if/when she needed a ride home. Heading to her truck, J is unknowingly followed by Buck- a guy who she thought was friendly enough. Buck is drunk at the time, and he tries to rape her. This mysterious guy comes out of nowhere, J doesn't recognize him, and he beats Buck up and insists on driving J back to the dorm. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Shortly after this, J decides to pull everything together- she starts pulling her weight in classes again, and the one class she has the most trouble with is econ- short for economics. Not only is Kennedy in this class, she missed a midterm and about two weeks worth of classes- talk about grade killer, I flinched when reading this. The teacher, Mr. Heller, decides to give her a break and assigns a project for J to do in place of the midterm. He also suggests a tutor, so she can get ahead easier- just in case she had any questions. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The tutor Mr. Heller suggests is Landon Maxfield. She e-mails him and their entire correspondence is through e-mail; I can relate to music education majors being incredibly busy. As this is going on, she notices the other guy- the one who saved her from Buck's attempted rape- everywhere. He works at Starbucks, he tutors, and does just about everything else. When Erin notices there's something to be had here, she and another friend create the OBBP (Operation Bad Boy Phase)- this other guy, whose name is Lucas, has tattoos... He really doesn't pay attention in class, and because he can fight he seems hardcore... He looks like a bit of a bad boy. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So the whole book is pretty much J getting over her breakup issues, unearthing eventually that Landon and Lucas are the same person, and gaining a new love- someone who will love and respect her. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And I ship these two. I ship them hard. I'm hoping this isn't just a one-shot book, I really want to know what happens next. But at least this exists. It does have a happy ending, I won't go into all of it, but I will say that justice does come to J where Buck is concerned. So yeah, happy days. :) </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, for now, this is it. Happy reading!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
*I refer to Jacqueline as J for this review, it's used in the book, and she hates being called Jackie. Character respect, yo. :look:</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645055516205338307.post-45359216951961562232012-11-25T21:57:00.002-05:002012-11-25T21:57:45.523-05:00Willow Reads: Hidden (House of Night #10)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9nHeiC87O586CyG_5_f3dm_jdmimWbegzlNxy2QBCYDgK-4Tp4X5yugtIth8EmpFhKclT0kUdPcnNgEwAlF28vid32_HlbSwLMCdQUm0litzkj8PAPiA8VwjMNYybZkau4aFHXNyYJIs_/s1600/7933615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9nHeiC87O586CyG_5_f3dm_jdmimWbegzlNxy2QBCYDgK-4Tp4X5yugtIth8EmpFhKclT0kUdPcnNgEwAlF28vid32_HlbSwLMCdQUm0litzkj8PAPiA8VwjMNYybZkau4aFHXNyYJIs_/s1600/7933615.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #674ea7;">At last, Zoey has what she wanted: the truth is out. Neferet's evil has been exposed, and the High Council is no longer on her side -- but she's far from done wreaking havoc in the vampyre world. First, a mysterious fire ravages the stables. Then, Neferet makes a devastating move that will test them all.</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;">With the seeds of distrust sown and Darkness breeding chaos at the House of Night, everyone must band together -- but that's proving to be more difficult than ever before. The twins are barely speaking and the House of Night's former enemy, Kalona, has now become their warrior, pushing their trust to the limit. To top it off, Zoey is pretty darn sure she might be losing her mind. She saw something when she looked at Aurox through the Seer Stone that she can hardly explain to herself, let alone her friends. Is it possible that Heath has come back in a different form? Is that why Zoey's so intrigued by Aurox, when it's so obvious that he's dangerous? And who would believe her if she told them? Zoey knows that following her instinct about Aurox might be just what they need to defeat evil . . . but if she's wrong, it could cause the destruction of those closest to her.</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;">With the tension at a breaking point and friendships on the line, can the nerd herd come together to stop the spread of Darkness before it's too late?</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span>
SPOILER ALERT.<br />
<br />
Title: Hidden (House of Night #10)<br />
Author: PC and Kristin Cast<br />
Page Count: 320 pages<br />
Book Website: www.houseofnightseries.com<br />
Published: October 16, 2012<br />
Source: Been reading these for years.<br />
<br />
I really didn't want to do this ever to a House of Night book. They started out amazingly well with the first books of the series... Then comes along this one. Beautiful cover... But looks can be deceiving. Am I the only one who thinks the authors are beating a dead horse? Why can't they just get to it and let us know how they meant the series to end? I only gave the book two stars on Goodreads, Reading the reviews on Goodreads, I know people will back me.<br />
<br />
And doesn't Zoey seem like she's turning into a Mary Sue? She's perfect in Stark's eyes, and no harm can come to her. She goes through all of this unscathed? No, that's not possible. Come on. And Lenobia of all people liking a human? Come on.<br />
<br />
Will I read the next book, and the book after that? Sure I will. Like everyone on Goodreads, the hook is deep within me. I want to know what happens, but I wish it'd be a little more realistic.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645055516205338307.post-46172166423641471342012-11-13T10:56:00.000-05:002012-11-13T10:56:48.815-05:00Willow Reads: Bitter Blood (Morganville Vampires #13)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zwnLoZmhXLXwdEwQtkltDxXW8PEy9jYDn8dUNUnlZTasCeSPWhKgY4xQA0hdUOhzMXwfr53QiLACcRikit-1uf9SVqk5MXUDuFQCnwwROZNvfWf4QgXJZqdUf_LV0Ao1PyVPVVOVH4cX/s1600/13414055.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/AVvXsEg5zwnLoZmhXLXwdEwQtkltDxXW8PEy9jYDn8dUNUnlZTasCeSPWhKgY4xQA0hdUOhzMXwfr53QiLACcRikit-1uf9SVqk5MXUDuFQCnwwROZNvfWf4QgXJZqdUf_LV0Ao1PyVPVVOVH4cX/s320/13414055.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">For years, the human and vampire residents of Morganville, Texas, have managed to co-exist in peace. But now that the threat to the vampires has been defeated, the human residents are learning that the gravest danger they face is the enemy within…</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Thanks to the eradication of the parasitic creatures known as the draug, the vampires of Morganville have been freed of their usual constraints. With the vampires indulging their every whim, the town’s human population is determined to hold on to their lives by taking up arms. But college student Claire Danvers isn’t about to take sides, considering she has ties to both the humans and the vampires. </span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">To make matters worse, a television show comes to Morganville looking for ghosts, just as vampire and human politics collide. Now, Claire and her friends have to figure out how to keep the peace without ending up on the nightly news… or worse.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Spoiler Warning- More Than Usual</u></b></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
Title: Bitter Blood (Morganville Vampires #13)<br />
Author: Rachel Caine<br />
Page Count: 404 pages<br />
Book website: www.morganvilletexas.com<br />
Published: November 6, 2012<br />
Source: Long-term love for this series<br />
<br />
I have an absolute love for Morganville. I was gifted the first two books of the series for Christmas my senior year of high school, by someone who really didn't know me but got stuck with me in a Secret Santa. He knew I read a lot, and he had watched me read Twilight... Vampires are in Twilight, so maybe I'd like this series? You know, that kind of thing. I couldn't have been more grateful, because I had wanted to read these books for ages. And now, it's book 13. It's hard to believe that it's only coming up on two years since I turned the first page and became instantly hooked.<br />
<br />
So, straight out, I loved this book; my rating on Goodreads is 5 stars, and that wasn't even with hesitation. I may be slightly biased, since I love this series so much. Rachel Caine has caught my heart, much like J.K. Rowling did with Harry Potter. She knows how to hit it right in the feels, though.<br />
<br />
One thing you may not like about this book is the changing perspectives- it has happened before in Morganville, and it continues on here. If that kind of thing isn't for you, I wouldn't suggest Morganville... You'll be missing out! But anyway, enough of the chit-chat and into the review.<br />
<br />
We start out with Amelie in a prologue, which is about Morganville ID cards- Oliver is pushing the issue, and he convinces her that every resident should have one. You can definitely tell by her tone, though, that Amelie has changed. Why, all of a sudden, does she trust Oliver like a lover instead of the enemy she must keep her eye on? I questioned this right away, but we'll figure out why later.<br />
<br />
So then, we're taken through the book. Morganville residents do get their ID cards (and find there's a hunting pass for the vampires- pretty much a license to kill one human a year and have a small fine for any other human they kill), Claire and crew attempt to stop it from happening... Myrnin leaves Morganville, or so we're lead to believe... Hannah is pushed from the mayor's office, and there's an "election" to have the next mayor put into office- but really, Morganville doesn't understand voting. A character we had never heard of in my memory (but I want to re-read the whole series), Florida Ramos, is given the spot by Amelie. This isn't a bad choice, she's a strong leader and she knows exactly how the humans feel- seeing as she is one, and she's tired of the vampires having open season with the humans. She herself lost two children to the vampires, and it hurts her.<br />
<br />
Then, things change. Pretty much throughout the whole book, people are pinning threatening pictures and things to the Glass House door, there's even an incident of gas in a bottle thrown through the window- causing a fire. It's all to do with Michael marrying Eve, and then it goes to an extreme. Eve gets beat up, causing some internal bleeding, broken ribs, and lots of pain. While Eve's in the hospital healing, Michael is bitten by Naomi. This makes him have to do everything Naomi says, including when she tells him to tell Eve that their marriage is over... Then he promptly is forced to kiss Claire, causing some problems between Shane and Eve. They're all in their separate worlds now it seems, and everyone's sad. Shane won't even look at Claire, Michael packed up and left the night he ended the marriage, and Claire has to help Eve- after that, she tells her parents she'll be there soon.<br />
<br />
But it all wraps up. At the end of the book, Claire saves Amelie's life and in return gets permission for Shane to leave Morganville in addition to getting herself into MIT again. She still loves him, even if he <i>is</i> an idiot. Michael and Eve make up, and Claire goes up to her bedroom to be alone. The realization hits.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"Tomorrow, she'd have to think about how to leave Morganville behind, how to go off to a new town, a new school, a whole new world... and somehow do it without Michael, or Eve, or even Myrnin. </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>And maybe even without Shane. </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>But she just couldn't face it now."</i></blockquote>
And then, later on... And this is the ending of the book, beware.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"Shane's arms went around her. It was slow, and tentative, and done in complete silence. He pulled her closer, and closer, until she was pressed against him, back to front. His lips pressed a slow, soft, burning kiss on the soft, tender skin at the back of her neck.</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i> 'I know you didn't ask me,' he said. 'I know you may not want me to go. But I'm going to Boston, and I'll be there when you need me. You don't have to say anything. I know I have to earn your trust back. It's okay.'</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i> She caught her breath, sighed, and felt her heart break all over again, in a whole new and beautiful way."</i></blockquote>
There's still books 14 and 15 on the way, thank goodness. When I finished the book at 2AM this morning, I didn't want it to end there. I wanted more. xD That's not a good stopping place, Rachel Caine! NOT COOL. xD<br />
<br />
But one thing I'm waiting on is the marriage- back a few books ago, Shane said something around the lines of "If we make it through this, promise you'll marry me." Claire said yes, but WHEN IS IT GONNA HAPPEN? I am totally wanting Claire and Shane to get married, and have Claire be Claire Collins and have adorable ClaireShane babies and... yeah.. /shifty Can you tell I'm huge on Claire/Shane? xD<br />
<br />
Anywho, for some cool extras head on over to morganvilletexas.com and/or http://www.youtube.com/user/OfficialRachelCaine <-- At the youtube there's some ads for the mayor- just fun little videos. Amelie looks like the Overly Attached Girlfriend. Go have fun!<br />
<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645055516205338307.post-91711931159677793692012-10-03T12:57:00.002-04:002012-10-03T12:57:43.051-04:00Willow Reads Books: Hereafter (Hereafter #1)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ODuYucSI4skkTZkvnIK5hw02hAEOT10io4Yz24MDF_aR8SgwQeLNl_bi2DojcuNtdPa5tk_nRCCrhjzfg_sE5oAxzCfeSM5DG8o9mLl8yg_qlfmoeq5bAEBvOeLKhcAo-XMQfnfAmJVG/s1600/9256414.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/AVvXsEg_ODuYucSI4skkTZkvnIK5hw02hAEOT10io4Yz24MDF_aR8SgwQeLNl_bi2DojcuNtdPa5tk_nRCCrhjzfg_sE5oAxzCfeSM5DG8o9mLl8yg_qlfmoeq5bAEBvOeLKhcAo-XMQfnfAmJVG/s320/9256414.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Can there truly be love after death?</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life--or her actual death--she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but "will" him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, "Hereafter" is a sensation you won't want to miss.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Title: Hereafter<br />
Author: Tara Hudson<br />
Page Count: 404 pages<br />
Book website: http://www.tarahudson.com/hereafter.php<br />
Published: June 7, 2011<br />
Source: Goodreads suggestion<br />
<br />
Amelia cannot remember much, except that she died in the water and that her name is Amelia. She is some sort of ghost wandering the lonely afterlife until something happens- a boy almost drowns to death in the same body of water. She ends up saving him, though he does die for a short amount of time, and then comes back to life. He can see her instantly after he comes back, but nobody else does.<br />
<br />
So, of course, the boy comes looking. His name is Joshua, called Josh by mostly everyone, and he ends up seeing Amelia. Their relationship grows fast and hard, and it's pretty much the most unbelievable aspect of the book. You can't fall completely in love with someone within the span of 24 hours- I don't care how lonely you are.. This doesn't happen- at most, it's infatuation with someone.<br />
<br />
But other than that, I really enjoyed this book. The story line is good, I just wish that Hudson had spent a little more time actually developing some sort of romantic relationship; when the whole romance is later tested by Eli, the antagonist of the whole book, it might have made a little more sense to have grown with more time. Love takes time. The whole aspect that the afterlife can mostly be solitude with no ability to remember anything, until someone dies in the same way you did at the same location.. That's definitely interesting.<br />
<br />
I'm kind of curious to read the next book of the series, though. I want to see how the relationship is going to turn out between Amelia and Joshua. It's not realistic for a ghost to be with a human... I mean, what are they going to do? Get married? xD<br />
<br />
So I don't know. I have to get my hands on book 2 and I'll update then.<br />
Currently reading J.K. Rowling's "The Casual Vacancy," and a review will be up as soon as I'm done and I get to it.<br />
<br />
Happy reading!<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645055516205338307.post-57550452736167851962012-09-19T12:28:00.000-04:002012-09-19T12:28:59.643-04:00Willow Reads: Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_pbUOIkzmzBeX1N4GED_HqegbJRLpFnrAH2vU4hZi1xevFfDYF56_Mqc6U1rPY8tKVBikF349MZn3McQtAIRtA5Aw2uvhIU34C-o-JA03GgJiNUE1XgHei7EZ5h_8zMno8YW2bpjvm_wR/s1600/Darkness+Becomes+Her.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/AVvXsEi_pbUOIkzmzBeX1N4GED_HqegbJRLpFnrAH2vU4hZi1xevFfDYF56_Mqc6U1rPY8tKVBikF349MZn3McQtAIRtA5Aw2uvhIU34C-o-JA03GgJiNUE1XgHei7EZ5h_8zMno8YW2bpjvm_wR/s320/Darkness+Becomes+Her.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very...different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
Title: Darkness Becomes Her (Gods and Monsters #1)<br />
Author: Kelly Keaton<br />
Page Count: 320<br />
Book Website: http://kellykeaton.net/<br />
Published: Feb. 22, 2011<br />
Source: Friend loan<br />
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Ari is unique- she always has been, and always will be. It's not because of her personality, but because she has silver hair that won't change in any way and bright teal eyes that stand out in any situation. Ari grew up in foster care- she loves her parents, even though they're not biological, and she wouldn't change that they were the best thing to happen to her... But she wonders who she is... Really, what kid has bright silver hair before they've really even started aging? So, that's where the book starts out. It has some romance in it, and there's some confusion, but eh...<br />
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Overall, though, I have to say this book was a fair read. It wasn't anything amazing or extraordinary. I read it very quickly, with not much thought to put into it... These are the types of reads I like to get into during the school year because it doesn't take much, whereas my school work takes a lot of my mental power... By the end of the day, I was ready for it, and I read it within like three or four nights of eh.. 20-30 minutes before I decided to sleep.<br />
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(Must apologize for the short review, I'm at school. xD)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645055516205338307.post-18915581131292587582012-09-10T19:58:00.001-04:002012-09-10T19:58:43.035-04:00Tina Reber- Love Unscripted *UPDATED* Release Date InfoMy Love Unscripted review from a while back got the most views out of any. Actually, it's the only one that has over 20 views. That post is over 600 views, and for that, I think people who come across this blog will be interested in this information.<br />
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So, if you don't go to Tina Reber's website regularly, you wouldn't see this. I'm here to tell you about release date information. I was informed via goodreads and Reber's page that it would be released August 31. Well that changed. I went to the page today, to see if it was out, and this is what shows up:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0J9_NPWRs8Iw-xaf4KivqzMOsALgpPQ04wYC72NuEziHgqR_uM4C7ClcMA3Ux2QyGGDD_9xknWX2EFSO6EFeVXrsNtmXVixSYLXAhzVnfQOIfzm0Icc7cG9S06WAQfOlLxFcJ2uPoobk/s1600/FB-HEADER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0J9_NPWRs8Iw-xaf4KivqzMOsALgpPQ04wYC72NuEziHgqR_uM4C7ClcMA3Ux2QyGGDD_9xknWX2EFSO6EFeVXrsNtmXVixSYLXAhzVnfQOIfzm0Icc7cG9S06WAQfOlLxFcJ2uPoobk/s1600/FB-HEADER.jpg" /></a></div>
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This is exactly what we've been waiting for. If you have an e-reader or don't mind reading via computer screen, go find it in a few days. If not, we have to wait until January 29, 2013.<br />
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Happy excitement and all the feels. :D<br />
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Keep up with Reber updates via <a href="http://tinareber.com/" target="_blank">this link to her official website</a>, and keep reading!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645055516205338307.post-83455004084728192262012-09-10T19:40:00.002-04:002012-09-12T19:15:44.220-04:00Willow Reads: The Perks of Being A Wallflower- Stephen Chbosky<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqqTDNHkPT1faKAJaGTNP4WA8rdguzg03jI4wA7-Dyu283I1oXyetRPWeYt4AfzBh6NtblQg2KpFDmO8Dd06gRCl5-D93f_da_EdlYsKW-0Umay4yG7u7fsCDmcVUgggv_rHVmPawvKXk/s1600/perks.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/AVvXsEgkqqTDNHkPT1faKAJaGTNP4WA8rdguzg03jI4wA7-Dyu283I1oXyetRPWeYt4AfzBh6NtblQg2KpFDmO8Dd06gRCl5-D93f_da_EdlYsKW-0Umay4yG7u7fsCDmcVUgggv_rHVmPawvKXk/s320/perks.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">Standing on the fringes of life...</strong><span style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"> offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.</span><br style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">This haunting novel about the dilemma of passivity vs. passion marks the stunning debut of a provocative new voice in contemporary fiction: </span><em style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">The Perks of Being a Wallflower.</em><br style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">This is the story of what it's like to grow up in high school. More intimate than a diary, Charlie's letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating. We may not know where he lives. We may not know to whom he is writing. All we know is the world he shares. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through uncharted territory. The world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends. The world of sex, drugs, and </span><em style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">The Rocky Horror Picture Show,</em><span style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"> when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite.</span><br style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">Through Charlie, Stephen Chbosky has created a deeply affecting coming-of-age story, a powerful novel that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller coaster days known as growing up.</span></span>
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<span style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">Title: The Perks of Being a Wallflower</span><br />
<span style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">Author: Stephen Chbosky</span><br />
<span style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">Page count: 213</span><br />
<span style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">Book Website: </span><a href="http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Stephen-Chbosky/1843916">http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Stephen-Chbosky/1843916</a><br />
<span style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">Published: Feb. 1, 1999</span><br />
<span style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">Source: Friend suggestion, also wanted to read before the movie came out. :)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">So first off- I want to explain the hiatus that I'm breaking now. College- simple as that. This book took me quite a while to read, not because of difficulty, but but because of time restraints. Anywho, let's get on with the review.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJudP7vz6sl3QBhSex3Bv7iPidnU7aqRxPKZRGFi0GpqSNpOuZ0ACu6NWmKGR2B5YliTeHEEluCKjjSXddftE5LxNq5_w_oQWC-ANTaPCL-_0SPEGoB2cH98IqAMZS-J8rMSi05ay1fsmR/s1600/mv5bmti5nzi3mjezn15bml5banbnxkftztcwmzi5nzawmwv1sx214cr00214314_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJudP7vz6sl3QBhSex3Bv7iPidnU7aqRxPKZRGFi0GpqSNpOuZ0ACu6NWmKGR2B5YliTeHEEluCKjjSXddftE5LxNq5_w_oQWC-ANTaPCL-_0SPEGoB2cH98IqAMZS-J8rMSi05ay1fsmR/s200/mv5bmti5nzi3mjezn15bml5banbnxkftztcwmzi5nzawmwv1sx214cr00214314_1.jpg" width="136" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Logan Lerman as Charlie in the film adaptation<br />
of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Sept. 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">This was totally not the book I expected it to be. Actually, I don't know what I was expecting- this wasn't it. The format is unique, for the main character writes letters to an unknown recipient to tell them what happened. The names aren't correct, because he doesn't want anyone to know who he is. The correct names don't really matter, because the whole book is mostly about his freshman year in high school. To be honest, I don't know how old Chbosky is, but he has his main character sounding surprisingly innocent. These days, you don't get that very often, and it took me off guard. Charlie, the main character, is very innocent, sweet, and sensitive- much like a young child and not so much like the fourteen year old he really is. This could be that he was 14 back in 1992, and I was just being born; times really have changed. But right from the get-go I felt like he was special in some sort of way, not a "normal" teenager (if there really is such a thing, right? xD). He likes school, and he doesn't mind when his favorite teacher Bill gives him extra books to read- actually he loves reading and the stuff Bill gives him interests him. To contrast Charlie with myself, I wouldn't </span><span style="line-height: 20px;">necessarily give my best friends <i>"To Kill a Mockingbird," </i>as well as some other more "classic" reads<i> </i>as graduation gifts. I'm not that kind of reader, my friends aren't either... </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Anywho, besides school, the book deals with peer pressure, underage drinking and cigarette smoking, drug use, masturbation, and a whole range of things any high school student today at least knows about in the fifth grade- just from the detailed health classes schools give nowadays. I just about got a kick out of this part where Charlie asks if the reader knows about masturbation and how it feels. He explains it in a serious tone, and it just made me giggle. With the teenage pregnancy rates, anyone these days that will get their hands on this book will have already known about this. </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_x2sMPeObnb98vFlhRfqr0VXv-uxomxAQtMplQbDTe5aSI5fa3H1pMz005jDgBspOrmQCcjUHm7rDorr1Za8NxmtbPl8Bb3FDa_4y5BK6WtkLi0OuUIVL4WDhv7HZvJ2oV2n-U7UPDL7/s1600/perks_sam_emma_watson_kings_diner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_x2sMPeObnb98vFlhRfqr0VXv-uxomxAQtMplQbDTe5aSI5fa3H1pMz005jDgBspOrmQCcjUHm7rDorr1Za8NxmtbPl8Bb3FDa_4y5BK6WtkLi0OuUIVL4WDhv7HZvJ2oV2n-U7UPDL7/s200/perks_sam_emma_watson_kings_diner.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emma Watson as Sam in the film adaptation of The Perks of<br />
Being a Wallflower, Sept. 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes are a huge bit of Charlie's life once he gets to some friends. Sam and Patrick are siblings by marriage, and those are his two best friends... I really don't want to blame them, but if he wouldn't have met them, Charlie wouldn't have started these things. It leads to depression and a two month long hospital visit toward the end of the book for Charlie. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Overall, though, I really enjoyed this book. I know I'm way late to the party- this book came out when I was just a wee little kid, oh gosh... I was 7 years old. The reason I heard about this book was because of a friend, and then the movie with Emma Watson is coming out in a few weeks and I didn't want to see before reading. I hate when I do that. And any Harry Potter fan who loves Emma has to go see this movie, she looks beautiful in it! Plus, we get to see her act out an American accent. It's going to take some getting used to. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645055516205338307.post-69887843777760644792012-07-22T22:53:00.002-04:002012-07-22T22:53:30.121-04:00The Shade Series: Music playlistWhile the series is over, and I'm about a month late on this fact- and, to be honest, a few years late to the whole thing- I'm still obsessed.<br />
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In the first book, Logan's first farewell concert ends with "The Parting Glass": The Keeley Brothers edition. Well that doesn't exist yet, officially or by fans as far as I know (though I'm new to the whole fandom)... Here's my favorite version that I've heard so far:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/q4egb2gpIg4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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I have this on a playlist I'm currently compiling. Most of it is Flyleaf, which I have this huge obsession with. I intend to listen to Jeri Smith-Ready's playlist(s) she's released and add my favorites from that, but mostly this is a fan centered playlist. So if you're reading this, and you have some songs that remind you of this series, please feel free to comment. :)<br />
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If you're interested in Jeri Smith-Ready's playlist(s), feel free to go <a href="http://www.jerismithready.com/" target="_blank">here</a> and look around. :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645055516205338307.post-4306868938896455082012-07-22T19:34:00.000-04:002012-07-22T19:34:06.302-04:00Willow Reads: Shine by Jeri Smith-Ready<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gcRlcIhHtBNIZQhlCVNtFumbLdaP3kpk1nDkch_YtD4ZHQQx2nfD1LtKIQCTZpnW4evUlUAu688DThqhrbcdj5pGEeZ7vPLKg15RdhNPLkmEFU_FDKM3je_xQ5zRMte4xOsvzT0lRqIC/s1600/10552965.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/AVvXsEi2gcRlcIhHtBNIZQhlCVNtFumbLdaP3kpk1nDkch_YtD4ZHQQx2nfD1LtKIQCTZpnW4evUlUAu688DThqhrbcdj5pGEeZ7vPLKg15RdhNPLkmEFU_FDKM3je_xQ5zRMte4xOsvzT0lRqIC/s320/10552965.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><strong style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">In this dramatic conclusion to the Shade trilogy, Aura and Zachary’s relationship sizzles as the secrets of the Shift are revealed.</strong><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">Life can change in an instant, and no one understands that better than Aura. It’s been almost a year since her boyfriend tragically died. She’s finally letting go of Logan’s violet-hued ghost, but not her search to uncover the truth about her past.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">As the first in a generation that can see ghosts, Aura is convinced she has a connection to the Shift. She’s trusted Zachary, ever patient and ever by her side, with all that she knows. But when the government threatens his life in an attempt to learn Aura’s secrets, she will stop at nothing to protect herself and the one she loves...even if that means betraying her own heart.</span></span>
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<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Spoiler Alert</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Title: Shine (Shade #3)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Author: Jeri Smith-Ready</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Page Count: 399</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Book website: http://www.jerismithready.com</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Published: May 1, 2012</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Source: Obsession</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">This is the last book of the three-book Shade Trilogy. Previously, Zach and Aura temporarily parted ways with plans to meet up in December; Aura would go to Scotland for the couples' 18th birthday and they would spend that time together. Shortly after Zach leaves, Logan passes over at his grave- with Aura as the single witness. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Then start this book a few hours later. Aura is at the cemetery when she gets a phone call from Megan. The flight Zach was on crashed, and it wasn't likely that there were any survivors. We find out later that this crash was caused by a sort of co-company to SecuriLab, who make BlackBox. They blame this 14 year old kid, whose bag they had shoved a bomb into once it was on the plane. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Aura understandably breaks down. She can't help it, it seems like the universe doesn't want her to have a boyfriend. But then Dylan calls in the middle of all this, and comes right away. She checks her Zach cell phone- the red one that he gave her before he was supposed to leave for Scotland. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Well, here's what happened in a shortened version: </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">The DMP wrongfully forced the Moore family to their offices. They really had no right, seeing as they were going to deport them anyway. Then, they DID deport Mr. and Mrs. Moore back to Scotland, but not Zachary. They sent Zach to Area 3A, which is where they were going to take Aura and Zach before Logan's last concert. For two months, Zach was in isolation from his parents, Aura, and everyone he knew and loved. This causes some post traumatic stress for him, so upon returning to Scotland MI-X gives him a counselor to talk to. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Over the months before Aura is able to go to Scotland, she connects with one of Zach's friends and he tells her the truth- it literally made my heart go out to the poor boy. Zach is having nightmares, he won't sleep... Every night before he retires to his room, he has to make sure everyone's where they're supposed to be and even then he worries. He follows everyone he cares about like a lost puppy, and it's not how Zach used to be before America. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Well, then Aura comes. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">We find out what really happened after a few days of them being together... And some other... <i>steamy</i> events. :) </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Overall you should know that this final book in the trilogy will be pleasing to those who ship Aura/Zach. You can't exactly ship Logan/Aura anymore, because Logan passed over. Don't even dare to ship Dylan/Aura. That's Megan territory by the end of the book. ;)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">The ending was good, but it... I want more. Aura goes to university in Scotland, and she probably lives there her entire life. After the first Scotland trip, she says that the United States doesn't feel like home anymore. Her other half is in Scotland. So, unless Zach comes back to America, she won't be back either. I'm almost 100% sure of it. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">I might even break into writing fanfiction for this one if we don't get news of a spin off series. xD I want stuff to happen. I haven't written fanfiction since I wanted a new Harry Potter to come faster than it could be written. xD</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">It's been an absolute joy to read this trilogy this month- Jeri Smith-Ready is now one of my absolute favorite authors-, and I just marked a whole bunch of goodreads suggestions similar to this series' contents for my own reading pleasure. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">That's it for now, and here is my every once in a while reminder to feel free to comment on any of the posts. Bye! :)</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0