Friday, July 31, 2015

Friday Favorites

Welcome to another Friday Favorites :) This week, I'm going to talk about my favorite characters from books I've read. Please feel free to comment on some of your favorite characters :)

Now, I'm breaking it up into a few categories because I have different types of favorites: there are the girls who are kickass and are just plain awesome and boys who are awesome and who are practically my fictional boyfriend(s).

 Kickass Females:
1. Hermione Granger from Harry Potter series
Do I even need to explain why she's number one? I mean, the series should have been "Hermione Granger and That Time I Saved Everyone". Seriously! The girl is smart, and isn't afraid to rock it! She's confident in herself and loyal to her friends, and she throws a mean punch when push comes to shove (right, Malfoy?) The girl is straight awesome!






2. Cress from Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3)
I went back and forth a lot on this one. Truth is, I love all the main females in this series (had the hardest time between Scarlet and Cress though). I like Cress because I feel she is a huge dreamer, like I am. I love the little fantasies she gets and scenarios she puts herself through because I do it too (friend's don't call me daydreamer for nothing). And when push comes to shove, she can handle herself :) If I ever had the chance to meet her, I think we wold be insta-BFFs <3






3. Celaena from Throne of Glass series
What can I say about Celaena? Besides that she is a total BAMF! She's hardcore, kick you in the teeth if she doesn't like you kind of personality mixed with a softer feminine side. She knows when to act like a lady and when to start bashing skulls. The perfect mix! I haven't even read the most recent book yet but I absolutely love this character. She is definitely a girl I would want on my side.





Drool-worthy Dudes:
1. Qhuinn from Black Dagger Brotherhood series
The steamy (not sparkley) vampire <3 This was one of the first romance series I started reading and it still is (and forever will be) one of my favorites. I got my friends hooked on it and we all have our favorites. Qhuinn is definitely mine :) He is loyal to a fault, despite his background, and is always striving to do right by other people, even if it costs him his freedom and happiness. Not to mention he has the sexy vampire thing going very well for him ;) I love his relationship with the other brothers and his friends and when I finally got to see him get his "happily ever after", I was beyond ecstatic! Definitely will always be one of my boys <3



2. Sage from The False Prince
Gotta love my sarcastic, witty guys <3 A story I randomly picked up one day since it sounded good and I needed a book and have been happy I did ever since. Sage is confident, sarcastic, and crafty and he uses his skills to get what he wants. This also includes making fools out of many people, which I many times found very hilarious. I absolutely loved reading about him and finding out what would happen next to Sage was the main reason I devoured this book so quickly. There are even two other books I need to read to catch up on Sage's adventure!! 




3. Harry Dresden from The Dresden Files series
The original sarcastic funny guy <3 Oh Harry... my original sarcastic, witty, all around good guy, who happens to be a wizard and who happens to also get himself into heaps of trouble at every turn. His wit and humor throughout the novels is amazing, and I always love a guy who can make me laugh. I have the added pleasure of listening to this series as an audiobook, narrated by freaking James Marsters! (don't know who James Marsters is? You may better remember him as Spike from Buffy... I'll let that sink in... Oh and the whole book is first person, so James Marsters is pretty much the voice of Harry Dresden, which makes me a very happy lady).

So tell us... who are your favorite characters? got a book boyfriend? Share it! We'd love to hear!

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Throwback Thursday

Hey all! I wanted to do a little Throwback Thursday post this week to highlight the book I was reading this time last year.

Author: Julie Kagawa
Goodreads Rating: 3.79
Pages: 449
Original Review
Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.

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

Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.
Oh Julie Kagawa! I remember getting this book at BEA one year and my face being like....

It doesn't seem like it's been a year since I read this fabulous book by this equally fabulous author. Since Talon's release, she has come out with the sequel, Rogue, and has a third installment set to grace us in 2016. 
 (oh yea... I'm excited!)

I re-read my review for it, along with other friend's reviews of it, and find myself wanting to read it over again (I most definitely will before reading Rogue anyway). This was in a time period of review for myself where I wrote the review immediately after finishing the book. Now, I like to let the book stew for a day or so and then review notes that I make throughout reading the book to make sure my reviews cover all the emotions, feelings and such that I had while reading. My review with Talon I think should be changed slightly.

This isn't a bad thing at all though!! I still have fond memories and it's still probably one of my favorite books to read. I do remember there being more of a romancey side to the book that I wasn't overly thrilled about. The main character, Ember, I remember being just overly-gullible and naive (I remember often yelling at her for not seeing things that were blatantly in front of her face) I found myself doing this....

I attributed her gullible nature to her just being secluded her whole life but.... sometimes she really needed to follow her instincts. The ending I remember absolutely loving though, hence my overzealous review.

I gave the book 5/5 stars before and looking back, if I had stopped to absorb the book as a whole, it probably would get 4.5 stars from me.

HOWEVER!!! I am now beyond excited to re-read Talon to see if my re-thinking holds true and to pick up Rogue!

So Tell Us!!! What's your Throwback Thursday book??

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Waiting On Wednesday #7

(Brought to you by Breaking the Spine)
This week's Waiting On Wednesday is A STUDY IN CHARLOTTE by Brittany Cavallaro


GUYYYYS. IT'S A SHERLOCK HOLMES STORY.

WITH GIRL PROTAGONISTS AND PROGENY OF SHERLOCK HOLMES AND JOHN WATSON.

I need this book.

It looks perfect.

The cover is very Sherlockian.

It looks amazing.

Tell me, friends. Has A STUDY IN CHARLOTTE made it onto your Waiting On Wednesday list?


Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Top Ten Fellow Book Nerds

 (Top 10 Tuesday brought to you by Broke and the Bookish

I adore this TTT. It's made for me. Characters who love books are characters I want to spend time with again and again. Don't you?

1. Paige from The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

My girl Paige may be a grammar nerd--unlike myself--but we are totally similar in our love for Jane Austen and bookstores and our television writing dreams. Although Paige probably has a better chance of writing for TV than I do.

2. Robbie from Atonement by Ian McKellan

Sobs. Robbie could have had it all. He was intelligent, bookish, with dreams way bigger than his low class status. After a lie destroyed his future, he was imprisoned and then forced into the army where all he lost any hope of success or love.

3. Emma from One Day by David Nicholls

Just thinking of this book makes me want to cry. Why're all British books sad? See: Atonement, Me Before You, etc. Emma is legit one of my favorite characters in all of the books I've read. AND she becomes a YA author later on, basing her main character off of a plucky student of hers.

4. Miranda from When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Miranda's favorite book is A Wrinkle In Time which is one of my favorite books which makes WYRM even better, if possible. You should definitely pick up this gorgeous novel if you haven't gotten the chance. It's lovely.

5. Hermione from Harry Potter by JK Rowling

How could I not include Hermione on this list?

6.  Charlie from The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

This epistolary novel has become a huge part of the gen x zeitgeist. I love that Charlie was recommended books from his teachers. It's such an adorable book nerd thing to do (and something I'm guilty of. My French teacher would give me french magazines and books to read all the time).


7. Swede from Peace Like A River by Leif Enger

One of the main things that made this book shine was Swede's pieces of epic poem throughout. It added a great depth to the ocean deep novel.

8. Jacqueline from Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

I think I may be cheating here since this is a memoir in verse but it's too beautiful not to mention.

9. Apple from Apple and Rain by Sarah Crossan

Apple wrote some lovely poetry as she struggled with all she had to deal with over the course of the novel.

10. Echo from The Girl At Midnight by Melissa Grey

SHE LIVES IN A LIBRARY. Nuff said.


Dr. Seuss 44 Classic Book Celebratory Tour: Book Review



The Shape Of Me and Other Stuff Review


Reading Dr. Seuss books as an adult is an odd and totally refreshing experience-- a little like walking through the hallways of your elementary school as a senior in high school. So, full of nostalgia and longing. When I picked up Dr. Seuss, I remember snuggling close to my mom (or Grandma, who took me to the library most days as a child) and tracing the odd shapes and sounding out the odd words. I loved the rhymes--Dr. Seuss' books often sent me into rhyming fits afterwards.

Seventeen or so years later and I'm still the same. I wanted to rhyme everything after all. But Dr. Seuss books are deceptively easy. Rhyming into a story is super hard and the key to his genius is how easy it is and how fun it all is.

The Shape of Me and Other Stuff is one that I don't actually remember as a kid. I don't doubt that I would have remembered the fun silhouettes (especially of keys and animals). And I'm sure the idea of being another shape would have sent my imagination into a spiral. Five or six-year-old Brianna would have loved to imagine herself as a horse or elephant or Blogg (whatever that might be).

And I probably wouldn't have gotten the message of the book right away, but now the idea that little Brianna would been taught, in such a subtle way, that it was totally okay to be super tall or dorky looking is heartwarming.

I love the quirky creatures and real life messages that Dr. Seuss always managed to sneak into his books and I think we should always celebrate that. I'm so happy that another Dr. Seuss book was found and that, in my opinion, he can remain relevant. I think his books--whether about which pet a kid should get or how Horton heard a Who--are so important.

I'm so glad that I loved them as a kid and can continue to love him now.

~*~

Thank you so much to Penguin Random House for including me on the blog tour and for this opportunity. 


ABOUT WHAT PET SHOULD I GET
In the Fall of 2013, an original manuscript with accompanying sketches by Dr. Seuss, aka Ted Geisel, was discovered in the La Jolla, California home of the late beloved children’s author. That complete manuscript was for the picture book, WHAT PET SHOULD I GET?, and will be published by Random House Children’s Books on July 28, 2015. It is the first original new Dr. Seuss book since the publication of the last book of Dr. Seuss’s career, Oh, the Places You’ll Go! in 1990. WHAT PET SHOULD I GET? captures the excitement of a classic childhood moment—choosing a pet—and features the brother and sister characters that Dr. Seuss drew in One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish.



Credit Courtesy of Dr. Seuss Enterprises 


ABOUT DR. SEUSS

Theodor “Seuss” Geisel is one of the most beloved children’s book authors of all time. His long list of awards includes Caldecott Honors for McElligot’s Pool, If I Ran the Zoo, and Bartholomew and the Oobleck, the Pulitzer Prize, and eight honorary doctorates. Works based on his original stories have won three Oscars, three Emmys, three Grammys and a Peabody. Geisel wrote and illustrated 45 books during his lifetime, and his books have sold more than 650 million copies worldwide. Though Theodor Geisel died on September 24, 1991, Dr. Seuss lives on, inspiring generations of children of all ages to explore the joys of reading. For more information about Dr. Seuss and his works, visit Seussville.com.

Celebratory Blog Tour:

1.       And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, 1937 – The Young Folks.com
2.       The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins, 1938 – Bookish Antics
3.       The Seven Lady Godivas, 1939 – The Eater of Books
4.       The King’s Stilts, 1939 – On Starships and Dragonwings
5.       Horton Hatches the Egg, 1940 – The Book Cellar
6.       McElligot’s Pool, 1947 – Media Mikes
7.       Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose, 1948 –Mommie of 2
8.       Bartholomew and the Oobleck, 1949 – Nonperfect Parenting
9.       If I Ran the Zoo, 1950 – Live to Read
10.   Scrambled Eggs Super! 1953 – Word Spelunking
11.   Horton Hears a Who! 1954 - Bookiemoji
12.   On Beyond Zebra! 1955 - Jessabella Reads
13.   If I Ran the Circus, 1956 – Book Hounds
14.   The Cat in the Hat, 1957 – The Bookbag
15.   How the Grinch Stole Christmas! 1957 – Nightly Reading
16.   The Cat in the Hat Comes Back, 1958 – Winter Haven Books
17.   Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories, 1958 – Alice Marvels
18.   Happy Birthday to You! 1959 – Chapter by Chapter
19.   Green Eggs and Ham, 1960 – Poland Bananas
20.   One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, 1960 – Once Upon a Twilight
21.   The Sneetches and Other Stories, 1961 - The Mod Podge Bookshelf
22.   Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book, 1962 – Good Books and Good Wine
23.   Dr. Seuss’s ABC, 1963 – The Irish Banana
24.   Hop on Pop, 1963 – Mundie Moms
25.   Fox in Socks, 1965 – Page Turners
26.   I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew, 1965 – Book Rock Betty
27.   The Cat in the Hat Songbook, 1967 – Giveaway Train
28.   The Foot Book, 1968 – I Am A Reader
29.   I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today! And Other Stories, 1969 – Cuddlebuggery
30.   I Can Draw It Myself, 1970 – The Children’s Book Review
31.   Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? 1970 – Curling Up with a Good Book
32.   The Lorax, 1971 - Elizziebooks
33.   Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now! 1972 – Reading with ABC
34.   Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? 1973 – Me, Myshelf, and I
35.   The Shape of Me and Other Stuff, 1973 – Paperback Princess
36.   There’s a Wocket in My Pocket! 1974 – Presenting Lenore
37.   Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! 1975 – YA Books Central
38.   The Cat’s Quizzer, 1976 – Lille Punkin’
39.   I Can Read with My Eyes Shut! 1978 – Confessions Of A Vi3tbabe
40.   Oh Say Can You Say? 1979 – Ex Libris
41.   Hunches in Bunches, 1982 – No BS Book Reviews
42.   The Butter Battle Book, 1984 – Novel Novice
43.   You’re Only Old Once! 1986 – Dad of Divas

44.   Oh, the Places You’ll Go! 1990  - Jesse the Reader

Monday, July 27, 2015

Review: Frozen Heart

Author: Elizabeth Rudnick
Goodreads rating: 4.33
Pages: 304
Format: ARC
Release Date: 10/6/15
Told in alternating chapters from both Anna's and Hans' perspectives, A Frozen Heart takes a sophisticated look at events of Frozen, exploring the couple's backstories, motivations, and doomed relationship.

Friday, July 24, 2015

Review: Bloody Mary: The Summoning (Bloody Mary #1)


Author: Hillary Monahan
Goodreads Rating: 3.71
Pages: 245
There is a right way and a wrong way to summon her.

Jess had done the research. Success requires precision: a dark room, a mirror, a candle, salt, and four teenage girls. Each of them--Jess, Shauna, Kitty, and Anna--must link hands, follow the rules . . . and never let go.

A thrilling fear spins around the room the first time Jess calls her name: "Bloody Mary. Bloody Mary. BLOODY MARY." A ripple of terror follows when a shadowy silhouette emerges through the fog, a specter trapped behind the mirror.

Once is not enough, though--at least not for Jess. Mary is called again. And again. But when their summoning circle is broken, Bloody Mary slips through the glass with a taste for revenge on her lips. As the girls struggle to escape Mary's wrath, loyalties are questioned, friendships are torn apart, and lives are forever altered.

A haunting trail of clues leads Shauna on a desperate search to uncover the legacy of Mary Worth. What she finds will change everything, but will it be enough to stop Mary--and Jess--before it's too late?

Thursday, July 23, 2015

PRETENDING TO BE ERICA Blog Tour: Author Interview with Michelle Painchaud

Hi all! Today we have an awesome Q&A with Michelle Painchaud, the author of PRETENDING TO BE ERICA. 


1. Did you do any research? 

I wish I did more! I did a lot about stuff I didn’t know – police procedure, mostly!

2. Are you a pantster or plotter? 

Pantser 100%. Although I do write rough outlines before I start so I’m not totally rolling around in the bullshit.

3. Do you have a playlist or some other creative outlet that you worked on while writing PRETENDING TO BE ERICA? 

Heck yeah! I had a rotation of music, but the only one I can really remember while writing was Drake’s Lust for Life.

4. This is a heavy topic--how did you balance writing such a story with your life? 

Not as heavy as you’d think! I cried a lot, to be completely honest. Something’s wrong if you don’t cry while writing at least a little, I think.

5. What was the first scene that came to you? 

Definitely Violet/Erica writing her name on a homework assignment and thinking ‘this isn’t my name, but it’s nice’.

6. What is the most important thing to you as a writer: character integrity, realistic plot, interesting story? 

Character. Character! CHARACTER!!! An interesting story can arguably be created entirely
by a good character.

7. What books have influenced your writing? 

Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle and the Jessica Darling series by Megan McCafferty are two big ones. I’ve got tons, but those are the two that influenced ERICA’s style, I think.

8. Is there anything that you believe in your life greatly prepared you for writing a novel? 

I did write a massive pokemon fanfiction back in the day. That prepped me for the grueling work bit, at least. :~)

9. If you hope readers took away one thing from PRETENDING TO BE ERICA what would it be? 

It’s alright to not know who you are – and it’s alright to do the right thing for yourself, regardless of what others think of you.

10. What are you working on next? 

A YA/Fantasy! It’s tough to sell after being a contemporary writer, but it’s got a girl who’s skin is slowly being crystallized.
~*~

Thank you so much to Michelle for the interview and thank you to Penguin Random House! 


About PRETENDING TO BE ERICA
Erica Silverman was abducted at the age of four. She was snatched outside of her kindergarten and never seen again. Violet was adopted by her con artist father for a single purpose: to become the long-lost heiress of the mythical Silverman painting. Violet has only ever been groomed for this moment. But what Violet doesn’t count on is how much she comes to care about the Silvermans, as well as the friends she’s made under false pretense. Walking a razor’s edge, calculating every decision, not sure sometimes who she is or what she is doing it for, Violet is an unforgettable heroine.


About Michelle Painchaud

Michelle Painchaud was born in Seattle, but grew up gate-crashing parties in sugar cane fields in Hawaii. Cats and anime take up what little part of her brain isn't harassed by stories of teenagers kicking ass. This is her first novel. She lives in San Diego, CA.

~*~

Pretending To Be Erica Blog Tour Stops:

Tuesday, July 14 – The Young Folks (interview)
Wednesday, July 15 - Bookish Broads (guest post)
Thursday, July 16 – Once Upon a Twilight (guest post & giveaway)
Friday, July 17 – Addicted 2 Novels (review & giveaway)
Monday, July 20 – Midnight Garden (guest post)
Tuesday, July 21 – Fangirlish (interview)
Wednesday, July 22 – Ex Libris (review)
Thursday, July 23 – Paperback Princess (interview)
Friday, July 24 – Book Flame (review)
Monday, July 27 – I am a Reader, Not a Writer (guest post)
Tuesday, July 28 – Book Emoji (interview)
Wednesday, July 29 – Me, My Shelf and I (review)

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Waiting On Wednesday #6







Waiting On Wednesday #6




This week's Waiting On Wednesday comes from a place of desperation, longing and need.

I need THE WINNER'S KISS by Marie Rutkoski. Please and thank you.

March 1, 2016 is way too far away.

And some spoiler-y comments:

1. What do you think that Kestrel isn't holding the sword in this cover but almost shying away from it?
2. Does this mean she has to choose to act again or that someone else will act on her behalf?
3. Is there any meaning to the dress meaning crimson?
4. Why can't I have this book now?

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Books That Feature Diversity

Hi all! Hope you had a spectacular weekend and that your Monday was stress-free and happy.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday highlighted a few things for me. (Top 10 Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish if you are interested in joining!)

1. I need to read more diverse books.
2. I'm a bit ashamed that I haven't.
3. I can't believe I didn't realize it.
4. Listing books is hard.


So here it goes:

1. There Will Come A Time by Carrie Arcos

This novel broke my heart, guys. Mark's reeling from the loss of his twin after a car accident. To remember her and try to heal, he works his way through a list she left behind of her greatest fears she wanted to conquer.

2. Paper Things by Jennifer Richard Jacobson

Ughhh, another novel that ripped me apart. This novel features homelessness. Ari is struggling to maintain a normal routine after her brother convinces her to leave their foster mother. This is a beautiful, heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting novel that I think every person should read.

3. Ruby On The Outside by Nora Raleigh Baskin

Ruby has a secret. Her mom is in prison. And this issue is one that hasn't been featured in many kids books or YA. I think it opens up for much needed discussion about a group of mostly invisible children suffering not from divorce or parental death but the ambiguous loss of parental incarceration.

4. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

This book. Seriously. Required reading. Beautiful short poems that packed a punch long after you
stopped reading.

5. Red Berries, White Clouds, Blue Skies by Sandra Dallas

Why're all these books turning out to be heartbreaking? Tomi's family is forced out of their home and interred at the start of World War Two. Despite embodying the "supposed" American Dream to a T--hard-working, land-owning, good, volunteering people, the family is seen as spies and their father imprisoned. It's sickening, especially through the eyes of a 12-year-old, who doesn't understand what's going on. Another required reading, if only so that future generations can learn from the horrible injustices and mistakes of the past.

6. Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

I have not read this one yet but it is so high on my TBR that I almost want to push all other books out of the way first. I've heard amazing things about this one and that I will be craving oreos long after I finish it.

7. The Girl At Midnight by Melissa Grey

EPIC. Please all stop whatever you're doing and read this. Echo is a kickass character in a world that Melissa Grey has built with care and love. I'm so excited to read the rest of this series.

8. More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

I also suck for not having read this yet but it sounds like a Me book. The concept sounds both heartbreaking and incredibly intriguing.

9. The Wrath and The Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

Features an incredibly diverse and well-built world. I loved this page-turner and am anxiously
awaiting it's sequels.

10. An Ember In The Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

This high concept book was brutal but fascinating. Another page-turner set in a diverse and original world.

Monday, July 20, 2015

Movie Monday: Serena

Hello all! Welcome to Movie Monday; we will be comparing the book Serena (review of which you can find here) with the movie. This segment will be brought to you by our guest blogger, Jen (who did the book review for Serena). 

Book by: Ron Rash
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 4.3/10
The North Carolina mountains at the end of the 1920s - George and Serena Pemberton, love-struck newly-weds, begin to build a timber empire. Serena soon proves herself to be equal to any man: overseeing loggers, hunting rattle-snakes, even saving a man's life in the wilderness. With power and influence now in their hands, the Pembertons refuse to let anyone stand in the way of their inflated love and ambitions. However, once Serena discovers George's hidden past and faces an unchangeable fate of her own, the Pemberton's passionate marriage begins to unravel leading toward a dramatic reckoning.

Friday, July 17, 2015

Friday Favorites: Book I'm Currently Reading

Hello all and welcome to another Friday Favorites! This week, I'm going to share my favorite book out my "Currently Reading" list.

Author: Hillary Monahan
Goodreads Rating: 3.72
Pages: 245
 There is a right way and a wrong way to summon her.

Jess had done the research. Success requires precision: a dark room, a mirror, a candle, salt, and four teenage girls. Each of them--Jess, Shauna, Kitty, and Anna--must link hands, follow the rules . . . and never let go.

A thrilling fear spins around the room the first time Jess calls her name: "Bloody Mary. Bloody Mary. BLOODY MARY." A ripple of terror follows when a shadowy silhouette emerges through the fog, a specter trapped behind the mirror.

Once is not enough, though--at least not for Jess. Mary is called again. And again. But when their summoning circle is broken, Bloody Mary slips through the glass with a taste for revenge on her lips. As the girls struggle to escape Mary's wrath, loyalties are questioned, friendships are torn apart, and lives are forever altered.

A haunting trail of clues leads Shauna on a desperate search to uncover the legacy of Mary Worth. What she finds will change everything, but will it be enough to stop Mary--and Jess--before it's too late?

 I, like most readers, usually have a plethora of books we are reading at a time. I also find that I'm drawn to one book more than the others and this is that book!

I'm just diving into the horror genre and this book I got a while ago and sadly forgot about it. I was drawn to it because, like most preteen girls, I did Bloody Mary in the bathroom at slumber parties a lot with friends and I loved the exhilaration of the fear (kind of like going through a haunted house). Bloody Mary was a part of my past time so I like seeing that folklore taken in a new light here.

I'm only about a quarter of the way through it but wow things happen fast!!!! It's not spooking me a bunch (yet) but things are just getting started and I already have some reservations about reading this at night.... by myself.... in a dark apartment..... Yeah, hopefully you see my point.

Overall, so far so good so keep an eye out for the review coming soon ;)

So what back are you reading??

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Review: Serena


Hey all! This review is going to be done by our guest blogger, Jen! 
 A little background on the wonderful Jennifer, she is the literacy specialist at the school I work at. She recently just got back from her honeymoon in Aruba where she reveled in the fact that she could actually read for fun instead of as just part of her job. We were talking about the books she read and I asked her if she wanted to write a review to share with everyone! So without further ado...



Author: Ron Rash
Goodreads rating: 3.55
Pages: 371
The year is 1929, and newlyweds George and Serena Pemberton travel from Boston to the North Carolina mountains where they plan to create a timber empire. Although George has already lived in the camp long enough to father an illegitimate child, Serena is new to the mountains—but she soon shows herself to be the equal of any man, overseeing crews, hunting rattle-snakes, even saving her husband's life in the wilderness. Together this lord and lady of the woodlands ruthlessly kill or vanquish all who fall out of favor. Yet when Serena learns that she will never bear a child, she sets out to murder the son George fathered without her. Mother and child begin a struggle for their lives, and when Serena suspects George is protecting his illegitimate family, the Pembertons' intense, passionate marriage starts to unravel as the story moves toward its shocking reckoning.

Rash's masterful balance of violence and beauty yields a riveting novel that, at its core, tells of love both honored and betrayed.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday #1

 Hello all! This is my first Waiting on Wednesday post and I'm so excited to share it with you!! Waiting on Wednesday brought to you by Breaking the Spine.

Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) by Marissa Meyer

Publication Date: November 10

Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won’t approve of her feelings for her childhood friend–the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn’t as weak as Levana believes her to be and she’s been undermining her stepmother’s wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that’s been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters?


There are so many reasons why I'm literally biting my nails waiting for this book
1) I love the Lunar Chronicles and just NEED to be rejoined with my favorite characters.
2) THAT COVER!!!!
3) I really am dying to see what happens next. For the last few books, I was able to quickly move onto the next book. This is the first time with this series that I actually have to wait for the book to come out >.<

Like I said, there are so many reasons I am dying to read this book but I'll just leave it with these three for now :) 

Make sure to tell us what you are waiting for!! Leave a comment with the book or a link to your blog and we will be sure to visit!!

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday: The Last Ten Books That Came Into My Possession

Happy Tuesday, all! I never thought that I'd be at the point where I am now--books overflowing in my room, stacks taking up any available space on my desk and floor (my bookshelves are more stuffed than a double stuffed Oreo)--but here I am.

So, I hope you'll forgive me if I struggle with remembering what the last ten books I most recently got were. But my lovely co-blogger Amy is going to help me fill in the list.

Brianna's List:

1. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Courtesy of: TeenReads/Penguin Random House

 I am so so so excited for this. Amie Kaufman is brilliant and I've heard great things about this book.

2. Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

Courtesy of: Feiwel & Friends

 GUYS. This book is about imaginary friends-which, if you must know, was baby Brianna's favorite game.  And Mary, Publicist Extraordinaire, wrote an amazing follow-up email after I requested it that made me want to read it more. You should TOTES have this on your radar. (Yes, I did just say totes.)

3. Dreamstrider by Lindsay Smith

Courtesy of: Roaring Book Press

This cover is so gorgeous and I'm so excited to read it. Dreams? Political intelligence? INCEPTION. I'm in love.

4. The Devil You Know by Trish Doller

Courtesy of: Me at Books of Wonder

Where The Stars Still Shine took my feels, stomped on them and gave them back to me in tattered shreds. I loved it so much that Trish will go on my "Read/Buy instantly" list. I am so lucky to have gotten the chance to meet her at the Boldly Bookish book tour.

5. Emmy and Oliver by Robin Benway

Courtesy of: TeenReads/HarperTeen

For some weird reason, I'm very intrigued and equally horrified by kidnapping stories. I think because I desperately want everything to turn out okay. But I've heard that this book is adorable (not sure if this is a good or bad thing) and I'm looking forward to it.




Amy's List
(*Note* All of the books I've recently received have been from my wonderful friend (who enables my books hording), and lovely blog owner, Nicole <3)

6.  A Whole New World (Twisted Tales #1) by Liz Braswell

This was one of my top books on my wishlist!!! I am so pumped for this series, mostly because I am pumped about anything and everything Disney related. I am currently reading it (because I'm pretty sure I would literally die of anticipation if I waited any longer) and so far it is phenomenal!

7. A Frozen Heart by Elizabeth Rudnick and the Disney Storybook Art Team

Keeping with the Disney theme, this book is a take on Disney's Frozen. It's Anna and Hans' story, told in alternating chapters and going into more in depth detail about their (ultimately failed) relationship. Being that I love anything Disney related, I'm pumped to have this book :)

8. The Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne

Another book that reminds me of Throne of Glass. A thief/assassin and a prince working together to defeat a common enemy... what's not to love about that?!? Thank goodness Nicole got me the sequel too ;) (And come on! Just look at that awesome cover!!)


9. Welcome to the Dark House by Laurie Faria Stolarz

 A young adult horror that I'm just itching to dive into! I've been wanting to switch gears and try more horror books and can't wait to kick it off with this book! Again, thank goodness Nicole got me the sequel to this too ;)

10. The Bourbon Kings by J.R. Ward

This book.....makes me..... SO HAPPY!!! I ADORE J.R. Ward and am soooo excited to have the first book in her new series!!!! I'm letting a friend of mine read it right now while I finish up some of the books I'm currently read. From some of the reactions I see to her reading it.... I can't wait to dive in!!!

That's it for our Top 10 :) Leave a comment with books that entered your top 10 or a link to your blog!! We'd love to see what you have!




Monday, July 13, 2015

Hello, I Love You

Author: Katie M. Stout
Goodreads Rating: 3.64
Pages: 304
Grace Wilde is running—from the multi-million dollar mansion her record producer father bought, the famous older brother who’s topped the country music charts five years in a row, and the mother who blames her for her brother’s breakdown. Grace escapes to the farthest place from home she can think of, a boarding school in Korea, hoping for a fresh start.

She wants nothing to do with music, but when her roommate Sophie’s twin brother Jason turns out to be the newest Korean pop music superstar, Grace is thrust back into the world of fame. She can't stand Jason, whose celebrity status is only outmatched by his oversized ego, but they form a tenuous alliance for the sake of her friendship with Sophie. As the months go by and Grace adjusts to her new life in Korea, even she can't deny the sparks flying between her and the KPOP idol.

Soon, Grace realizes that her feelings for Jason threaten her promise to herself that she'll leave behind the music industry that destroyed her family. But can Grace ignore her attraction to Jason and her undeniable pull of the music she was born to write? Sweet, fun, and romantic, this young adult novel explores what it means to experience first love and discover who you really are in the process.

Friday, July 10, 2015

Friday Favorites

This is a new meme I found, hosted at Wishful Endings. Here, I'm going to talk about my favorite series. If we share a common interest, or if you have a favorite series you would like to share, comment below!!!

Enjoy :) 

This series has been with me since my early childhood. It was one of the first book series I came to know, and love, and helped my love of reading flourish. I ended up putting the series down and actually forgetting about it for a while (while I was waiting for one of the books to come out coincidentally. You all know how a 13 year old's mind works). I came back to it years later and re-read all the books up until I stopped and found myself falling in love all over again. I finished the last book in 2013, shortly after BEA, where I got to meet the author as he released his new book series. There, we reminisced about his first series and he even signed my 8th book (which I was reading at the time)! To this day, he is still one of my favorite authors :)

The series made my laugh and cry, sometimes all at once. I came to really love the characters and some of the more traumatic events still stick with me. This was a series where I wanted to finish the last book so bad to see what happened, but at the same time, I didn't want to finish it because that meant it was over. No more "what happens next", no more traveling around with my favorite characters... just done.

Everything about this series, from the characters, to the plot, to the amazing and genuine author who wrote it, plays a part in making this my favorite series of all time. Beating out Harry Potter in my childhood memories as being the first series I came to love...... *drum roll*

Pendragon! I loved traveling to the different worlds, meeting other travelers and feeling like I was right there with Bobby through the whole journey! D.J. MacHale tells a great tale that will forever have a special place with me (his new series, The SYLO Chronicles, is shaping up to be a really good series as well!).

So tell me... what's your favorite series? Comment below!

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Blogging Life: How We Got Started

Hi all!

This post was partially inspired by Lili's from Lili's Reflections: The Intern Diaries and also partially by discussion between my co-blogger and I. We were discussing our crazy hectic schedules (I'm a assistant publicist and she's a science teacher) and our strategy for keeping up with the blog. This led to a discussion about our reading schedules--made up mostly of my reminiscing about my too recent college days when I had days just to read. It made me want to introduce myself on the blog as a way to welcome new perspectives in the blogging community and maybe give advice to any budding bloggers--not that I'm anything more than a budding blogger myself.

So below, please find Brianna,Amy, and Nicole's blogging stories from the beginning. Please also comment with your own! We're very curious!

A Few Facts about Brianna's Blogging Beginning: 

1. I kept track of my books and pages for a few years in middle school. I had a reading teacher who bet me and a friend that we couldn't read over 1000 pages a semester. If we could, and we had to carefully document it, she would give us a prize. Said prize ended up being a bookmark, I think, but the habit stuck. I kept a notebook listing of all my books. My classmates saw that I was reading so fast and used to ask me about them. I started giving word of mouth reviews in fifth grade.

2. I wrote awful reviews in high school about books that had come out months ago. I wrote a particularly bad Hunger Games review that I'm sure no one but the Features editor and my mom read.

3. I tried to start my own blog (One Pound Dreamer because of my odd birth weight) in college. I had no idea what I was doing and it had no focus.

4. I worked at literary magazine--First Inkling--for the first few years of college. We had a lofty and important goal, to publish the best student writing from around the world at a undergraduate and graduate level and I spent most of this time trying to keep up with the literary editors around me. I too a huge step back from reading not only YA but anything I enjoyed and tried to become "well read."

5. I transferred to Sarah Lawrence and spent most of this time reading only for class. I almost wrote for the paper but after I failed miserably at my first school with book reviews, I figured there was no point to try again.

6. The summer between Junior and Senior year, my second cousin asked me if I would be interested in book blogging. She had a family friend who needed a "co-blogger." That family friend was Nicole. I thank my second cousin every day for accidentally introducing me to one of the best communities and by association the best people.

A Few Facts About Amy's Blogging Beginning

1) I really hated reading when I was in elementary school. I mean really hated it. You would never find me near a book I didn't absolutely have to read for school, and even then it was a struggle. After 4th grade, and with the help of some truly amazing reading teachers, I found a series I could read and really enjoy. That series... Harry Potter :) By 6th grade, you wouldn't see me without a book in my hands.

2) My book list (and book shelf) started growing and growing and soon I found that I couldn't remember if I liked certain books or not. My friends would go through my book shelf to borrow books and I wasn't able to tell them what I thought of some of the books(ask any of my friends, I have a very poor memory). So I started to keep a journal of just a basic star rating for each book I read from that point on.

3) Soon, that grew into writing comments along with the stars describing why they got that rating and such. By college, I found GoodReads :) I loved the idea of electronically keeping track of the books I read and it made it so much easier to find books I have previously read, as well as connecting with other book fans :)

4) After college, my very good friend, Nicole, talked to me about being a co-blogger with her on her blog. I was a little apprehensive about it, but Nicole is very persuasive :) I've been blogging to this day and I'm so happy that she got me to do this!!

A Few Facts About Nicole's Blogging Beginning

1. I actually had a special reading teacher in grade school because I wasn't good at reading, Once I was able to get past that, I took off with it, constantly taking books out of the library or having my parents buy me books. Since my sister and mother worked at Barnes and Noble I had easy access to books.

2. During college I mostly stopped reading because there was never any time between clubs and school work, so when I spent a summer at Dartmouth with my boyfriend before my last semester in college, I brought 50 books up to Hanover and read all of them in the span of 3 months, posting about it on Facebook. Friends started to ask me for recommendations and Mike suggested that I start a blog.

3. Then Paperback Princess was born in December of 2011. It started as somewhere for me to direct friends and family to what I was reading, and it grew from there.

So tell us... how did you get into blogging? Not a blogger? How do you keep track of books you have read?

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday #6

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to you by Breaking The Spine

This week I'm waiting for Emery Lord's WHEN WE COLLIDED. 

Anyone who knows me should not be surprised by this--I'm absolutely in love with Emery Lord's books. 

I had the honor of interning at Bloomsbury during OPEN ROAD SUMMER and THE START OF ME AND YOU and saw that many bloggers and reviewers agreed with me, Emery is fabulous. 

Her stories are a mix of everything you love in a good book: sweet, moving, character driven and at times intense. Her writing is truthful and perfect. 

In her post announcing WHEN WE COLLIDED, Emery writes that she wanted to write a book about mental illness that wasn't about mental illness and in an ever-growing, hopefully diverse YA canon, that's really what we need. I can't wait to read this story that Emery will no doubt handle with the grace and respect that all of her writing has had before her. 

And THE COVER. 
 
Can we talk about that too? Because it's so freaking gorgeous, just like Emery's writing. I expect nothing less. 



Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Top 10 Tuesday

 Hey all! Welcome to Top 10 Tuesday at Paperback Princess! Here I'm going to talk about my top 10 my hyped up books I've never read. Top 10 Tuesday is hosted at The Broke and the Bookish if you are interested in joining in the fun :)

Most of these books are hyped up books that I despereately want to read but most often, don't have time to -.-

Now in no particular order...

1) Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
My friends have bee
n trying to get me to read this since the movie came out. I have a policy of not watching a movie that is based off a book before actually reading the book but haven't gotten around to it. I still have yet to see the movie but the book is definitely on my TBR (and soon) list.

2) Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Another classic book that I hear is so good but haven't had time to read! Hopefully, once my reading pile gets down I will have time to read it.

3) Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
I was present at the BEA where the ARC of this was being given out but sadly wasn't able to obtain it. I now hear so many great things being said about it from friends, other bloggers and even my students! Can't wait to read this (hopefully someday soon).

4) Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Another great book by a great author that I missed out on during previous BEA trips :( I was so sad about not getting this book but eventually just bought a copy myself! Now, it's just finding the time to read it...

5) Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
This is more about the series in general (since the most recent book, A Court of Thorns and Roses, just came out a couple months ago). I'm a little behind the curve with this series since this series is one of my Beach Books (see original post on Beach Books here). But definitely can't wait to read this at the beach in a few weeks!!

6) Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
This was a book that I came very close to buying without even knowing it was "hyped up". I need a book for a train ride and picked it up along with another book. Sadly, I had to make the tough choice between the two and I chose the shorter one (in hopes of finishing it on my train ride) but I've been
thinking about it ever since.

7 & 8) Fairest and Winter by Marissa Meyer
 I'm including both books since this is another that is more about the series (and I haven't read Fairest yet so it can still count). Can't wait to read Fairest and Winter (coming this November!!!)

9) The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black
Another book I received at my first BEA and never got around to reading -.- I heard so many good things and am so excited to read it!! Not to mention I simply ADORE Holly Black!!

10) The Fill-in Boyfriend by Kasi West
This one actually surprises me, since I am not really into contemporary romances but I read the description while aimlessly wandering around Barnes & Noble one day and found it actually sounded pretty good. Maybe my tastes are changing but I'm really excited for this book!


Well, that's all for this week's Top 10 Tuesday! So, tell me, what's in your top 10? Do we share any in common? If you are a blogger, leave a link to your post and I'll check it out!!



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