Top Ten Tuesday #5

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's topic is your Top Ten Most Intimidating Book. I have to say this is a hard topic. Hmm..

1. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

2 Reasons. (1) It is one of the most hyped book of 2012 and (2) people start telling me how they end up bawling their eyes out.  I hate reading books with unhappy endings. Ironically enough, I read it and end up loving it.
2. Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

Incest. *Awkward* Have yet to read it.
3. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin 

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the tv show. I just never got around to reading the book, so I am kind of scared to now.  Fingers-crossed that it won't ruin my experience with the show.
4. Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo 

Have you ever had reader's block with continuing a series? When I first read Shadow and Bones, I fell in love and was devastated to hear that the sequel won't be out until a while. However, now that it is out, I'm too occupied by my current read to even spare it a second glance. Now it's sitting on my tbr shelf collecting dust. (To be honest, I may have forgotten the storyline of the Shadow and Bone but hey it's been over a year!)
5. Stolen: A Letter To My Captor by Lucy Christopher 

Abduction, Thriller, and suspense. Oh my! I have been eying this one for a while but I heard it has a devasting ending. YIKES!
6. The Shining by Stephen King

This one takes the literal meaning of intimidating. If the book is anything like the movie...

This is an accurate representation of me. Stay classy Wendy Torrance.

7. Unwind by Neal Shusterman 

Oh My God. This book sounds so disturbing. I mean making people out of intestines...I'm wary of it but I am curious too. #Curiosity killed the cat. #But cats have 9 lives
8. The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

I know you shouldn't be comparing this book to HP. But come on, HP is legend. Am I expecting way too much?
9. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner

Face it, this one is a no brainer. " Incest, castration, suicide, racism, misogyny  " Who had to tough this one down in english class?
10. Books with Negative Reviews
Be careful with what you say on the internet. A person's opinion can easily cloud my judgment. You can take an immensely popular book with millions of 5 stars ratings and make me turn 180 about my decision to read it with 1 persuasive, negative review.

Feel free to link me your TTT. 

June Favorites

Favorite Books of the Month 

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Blurb:

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau. 

The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.

5☆s Probably one of my favorite books ever. Death is haunted by humans. 

2 in 1 Review: The Great Gatsby

“I was within and without. Simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life.” 

Genre: Classics
Series: N/a
Rating: 4 ☆s  My opinion is not relevant.

Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Blurb:

On a day that started like any other,

Mia had everything: a loving family, a gorgeous, admiring boyfriend, and a bright future full of music and full of choices. In an instant, almost all of that is taken from her. Caught between life and death, between a happy past and an unknowable future, Mia spends one critical day contemplating the only decision she has left. It is the most important decision she'll ever make.
Simultaneously tragic and hopeful, this is a romantic, riveting, and ultimately uplifting story about memory, music, living, dying, loving.

Series: If I Stay #1
Rating: 3.5(4) ☆s
Genre: YA, Contemporary Romance

Life Update: Graduation, College, Summer, Where have I been??

Greetings internet!
After a 3 month hiatus, it feels good to be back! Gah. I feels so giddy, I don't even care if no one reads this.
 While I was away:

April Favorites

I missed my March favorites. Now to make it up, I have twice as much to talk about!
Changing is happening soon. GOOD change since the end of March. :) Let's get started.

Favorite Book

                     

March-April Playlist
Counting Stars-OneRepublic
What You Wanted-OneRepublic
If I Lose Myself-OneRepublic
All We Ever Say is Goodbye-John Mayer
Gravity-John Mayer
Everybody-Ingrid Michaelson
Kill Your Heroes-AWOLNATION
Guilty Filthy Soul-AWOLNATION
All I Need-AWOLNATION
Not Your Fault-AWOLNATION
Next to Me-Emeli Sande
Why Am I the One-Fun
Shattered-OAR
Here's To Never Growing Up- Avril Lavigne
Stay Out-Nina Nesbitt
Brave-Sara Barielles
It's a Beautiful Day-Michael Buble
1957-Milo Greene
The Way it Was-The Killers
Hello My Old Heart- The Old Hello's
Bullet from a Gun-The Script
Still-Daughter
Human-Daugther

Favorite Quote:

"Anyone can love a rose, but it takes a lot to love a leaf. It’s ordinary to love the beautiful, but it’s beautiful to love the ordinary." -Anon

Most Anticipated Movie:

I'll admit this isn't even a real category but can we just talk about how close we are to the release of THE GREAT GATSBY....pause for the scream.

Book Thief Movie ??? Coming January 17, 2014. The cast is out! 

So what have you guys been up to?

Feature and Follow #6

Feature & Follow is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. The purpose is to meet new people and gain more followers in the book blogging community. If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers. But you have to know, the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

Q: If you could hang out with any author (living) who would it be and what would you want to do?

Hmmmm... Laini Taylor! I just finished Daughter of Smoke and Bone and love doesn't even begin to describe how much I enjoyed it. I am going to savor Days of Blood and Starlight. If I do meet her, I'll probably be too starstruck to start an intellectual conversation with her (though I am curious as to where she comes up with such an intricate world with angels and chimeras). I'll probably bask in her awesomeness and hope that some of it seeps into me. Oh and I want her bubblegum pink hair.

Leave a link to your FF, so I can check it out. Please let me know if you are a new follower, so I can follow you back. Happy Friday to all!

Review: Shadows by Paula Weston

Blurb:
It’s almost a year since Gaby Winters was in the car crash that killed her twin brother, Jude. Her body has healed in the sunshine of Pandanus Beach, but her grief is raw and constant. It doesn’t help that every night in her dreams she kills demons and other hell-spawn.

And then Rafa comes to town. Not only does he look exactly like the guy who’s been appearing in Gaby’s dreams—he claims a history with her brother that makes no sense. Gaby is forced to accept that what she thought she knew about herself and her life is only a shadow of the truth—and that the truth is more likely to be found in the shadows of her nightmares.

Who is Rafa? Who are the Rephaim? And most importantly, who can she trust?

Fast-paced and gripping, Shadows, the first book in the Rephaim series, is a standout paranormal romance for fans of Richelle Mead and Cassandra Clare.

Genre: New Adult/ Paranormal>Angels
Series: The Rephaim #1
Rating: 4.5 ☆s

Waiting on Wednesdays #4

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

           This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Hi guys, today sucked big-time. Sorry that is irrelevant to this post but I needed an outlet. I just wanted someone to know that I had a bad day. Anyways, back to the book I am eagerly anticipating.

The Falconer by Elizabeth May
Blurb:
Edinburgh, Scotland, 1844

18-year-old Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, was destined to a life carefully planned around Edinburgh’s social events – right up until a faery kills her mother.

Now it’s the 1844 winter season. Between a seeming endless number of parties, Aileana slaughters faeries in secret. Armed with modified percussion pistols and explosives, every night she sheds her aristocratic facade and goes hunting. She’s determined to track down the faery who murdered her mother, and to destroy any who prey on humans in the city’s many dark alleyways.

But she never even considered that she might become attracted to one. To the magnetic Kiaran MacKay, the faery who trained her to kill his own kind. Nor is she at all prepared for the revelation he’s going to bring. Because Midwinter is approaching, and with it an eclipse that has the ability to unlock a Fae prison and begin the Wild Hunt.

A battle looms, and Aileana is going to have to decide how much she’s willing to lose – and just how far she’ll go to avenge her mother’s murder.

I am not sure how many of y'all heard of this one or posted it since I haven't done a WoW in a long, long time. But historical fiction and fairies sounds too delightful to pass up!
On a side note, there is news of Angelfall 2 (still no title) that it is going to be released this fall! So eeeeep.

That is all for today folks. What book are you waiting on? Let me know in the comments down below. 

Top Ten Tuesday #4

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

The topic I chose is TOP TEN BOOKS THAT MADE ME THINK. Hmm now I have to think of books that made me think. Let's jump right into it!

1. Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens
Ohh the irony of the title. Did I like this book? Hell to the naw. Did it made me think? You betcha. I was so fuming by the time that I had to put it down. I am infuriated with the carelessness and selfishness of the heroine. Does two years of relationship mean so little to her that she had to sleep with her boyfriend's best friend. That is not ok!!!! I cannot see anyways that you can justify her actions. She could have at least come clean to her boyfriend and break up with him but noooo she had to keep both. I understand the fragility of human relationships but how can someone be so carelessly tossed aside. Now I am just ranting, see what this book did to me! 
(Disclaimer: I have read S.C. Stephens' other series and enjoyed it! What I can't stand is cheating. Ugh. Over and out)

2. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
I read this during freshman year in high school. Some books are so deeply woven that I have nothing much to say except that Atticus Finch is my hero. Life is not fair but don't let such injustices blind you from other people's kindness and benevolence.

3. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Ok, I know this is a children's book but you got to hear me out. This book does not preach selfishness but rather the value of giving. Besides the moral of the story, this book holds sentimental value to my childhood.

4. Sempre by J.M. Darhower
It's hard to believe that slavery still exists at this turn of the century. Human trafficking is real and it is scary. 

5. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Ahh peer pressure, fitting in, and speaking up for yourself. Laurie Halse Anderson addresses the toughest issues of high school and more in this coming of age novel. I LOVE this book. 

6. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
How can I not put this on my list? It's Harry freaking Potter.We all need a little fantasy in our every day life. Dream big. Holy crap I want to fly on a broomstick and play a good ole game of quidditch. Alright which one of you guys stole my Hogwarts acceptance letter?

7. Enclave by Ann Aguirre
I think number 7 goes out to all dystopian novels. (It's just that Enclave is one of my favorites!) With today's technology and other advantages of this century, many of us take for granted little things, like cars, faucet water, grocery food, and the weatherman. Internet. Right, how can I forget the internet?? Imagine living in a world with no indoor plumbing or toilet paper. *shudders

8. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
We all know about the perks of immortality but in reality how many of us would actually choose to live forever? I know a lot of vampire books address the whole "forever young" deal but this book shot that horse in the face when I first read it in sixth grade. At that age, I thought about how awesome it is to live forever, but now I finally get why Winnie chose not to drink from the spring. Smart girl.

9. Dust Lands by Moira Young
I need to choose a "fun" book. This book reminded me a lot about my sisters and I. One of them is older than me and our relationship reminds me a lot of Saba and Lugh. We do almost everything together and people actually used to think we were twins. We are close, at least I like to think we are ( and if she is reading this, don't flatter yourself). While my younger sisters and I's relationship is a bit more rocky just like Emmy's and Saba's. We fight. But that doesn't mean I love her less. Ew this is starting to get cheesy.

10.The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
I'm still in the process of reading this one,and if it's already on this list before I even finished it, that says something. ;)That's all I will say for now.

That's enough of my blabbering.I am curious about your TTT, feel free to leave a link! :)

ARC Review: True by Erin McCarthy

Blurb:

When Rory Macintosh’s roommates find out that their studious and shy friend has never been with a guy, they decide that, as an act of kindness they’ll help her lose her virginity by hiring confident, tattooed bad boy Tyler Mann to do the job…unbeknownst to Rory.

Tyler knows he’s not good enough for Rory. She’s smart, doctor smart, while he’s barely scraping by at his EMT program, hoping to pull his younger brothers out of the hell their druggy mother has left them in. But he can’t resist taking up her roommates on an opportunity to get to know her better. There’s something about her honesty that keeps him coming back when he knows he shouldn’t…

Torn between common sense and desire, the two find themselves caught up in a passionate relationship. But when Tyler’s broken family threatens to destroy his future, and hers, Rory will need to decide whether to cut her ties to his risky world or follow her heart, no matter what the cost…

Genre: New Adult/Contemporary Romance

Series: N/a

Rating: 4☆s

Review: Demons at Deadnight by A&E Kirk

"I launched into a graceful ninja-like front roll, then stood my ground to face the monstrous heathen, fearless in my determination to vanquish the deadly foe. Nah, just kidding. I bolted, discretion being the better part of not getting dead."

Genre: YA/ Paranormal Romance
Series: Divinicus Nex Chronicles #1
Rating: 5☆s

My reaction after reading this book:

Jaw dropping, eye watering, rainbow puking 420 pages of GOODNESS. No but seriously, reading a book this good is like finding a hole in the wall. Demons at Deadnight is definitely a hidden gem. I'm having stomach pains from laughing too hard while reading.

Review: Captured by Erica Stevens

Blurb:
Blood Slave.
Captured, taken from her beloved family and woods, Aria’s biggest fear is not the imminent death facing her, but that she will be chosen as a blood slave for a member of the ruling vampire race. No matter what becomes of her though, Aria knows that she must keep her identity hidden from the monsters imprisoning her. She has already been branded a member of the rebellion, but the vampires do not know the true depth of her involvement with it, and they must never know.

Though hoping for death, Aria’s world is turned upside down when a vampire named Braith steps forward to claim her. He delays her execution, but Aria knows it’s only a matter of time before he drains her, and destroys her. Especially once she learns his true identity as a prince within the royal family; the same royal family that started the war that ultimately brought down humankind, reducing them to nothing more than servants and slaves.

Aria is determined to hate the prince, determined not to give into him in anyway, but his strange kindness, and surprising gentleness astonish her. Torn between her loyalties to the rebellion, and her growing love for her greatest enemy, Aria struggles to decide between everything she has ever known, and a love she never dreamed of finding.

Genre: YA/ Paranormal Romance/Indie (Represent!)
Series: The Captive #1
Rating: 3☆s

Review: Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder

Blurb:
The army of the dead are coming…

Avry of Kazan, the last Healer of the mystical Fifteen Realms, has a power that can’t be matched. But in the minds of her friends and foe alike, Avry no longer exists. Now, as the psychotic King Tohon builds an army mightier than any that has been seen before—a league of undead soldiers—Avry must face her toughest, most terrifying battle alone. Fighting to be reunited with her family and her lover Kerrick, Avry must infiltrate Tohon’s troops. But does she have the power, the rare magic; to do what legend says is impossible?

Genre: YA/High Fantasy with a hint of romance
Series: Healer #2
Rating: 4.5☆s(4☆s)

2 in 1 Review: Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

"We accept the love we think we deserve." Cheesy, but oddly appropriate.

Genre: YA, Coming of Age

Series: N/a

Rating: Solid 4☆s 

Book review

Dear friend,

Today I finished a book and I writing to you because I thought you'd like to hear about it and maybe even read it if you are into this type of books. Though it did not make me cry (my mother berates me for being emotionless) like it did to many others, it touched my heart ,something I did not know I had until now. Stephen Chbosky,  (or can I call him Steve? since after reading this I feel like we should be friends) tells us a coming of age story through the mind of Charlie, an awkward introvert who thinks too hard about life. I believe that the hardest part of growing up is finding yourself and Steve does a good job of telling it. 

Top Ten Tuesday #3

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Books on my Spring TBR List 
Sorry for the hiatus. I haven't participated in one these memes in a while. Like always, this is in no particular order. I will try to include titles that I haven't already mentioned before. Though some of these already published, I still haven't have the time to read them. Here goes:

1. The Fault in Our Stars by John Greene I know. I know. I have been trying to get my hands on this one for a while. I'm not sure if I'm ready for a tearjerker.
2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
3. Delirium by Oliver Lauren They're coming out with a TV show for this one so heck yeah I'm going to try to read the book first!
4. Darkhouse by Karina Halle Horror isn't really my genre but I'm trying to branch out.
5. In the After by Demitria Lunetta Zombies :O
6. Taken by Erin Bowman Hooray for 2013 debut books/authors! :D
7. Unwind by Neal Shusterman
8. Splintered by A.G Howard I swear this one is next. 
9. The Holders by Julianna Scott
10. Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta This one has been on my list way too long. :(

February Favorites

Oh gosh, is it one month already? I feel like I say that every month, it's a bit weird. I am so not ready for March; it is going to be an intense month of serious decision-making. It also means spring is coming, yuck hay fever. I want to skip to summer. Sorry for the hiatus, I have been crazy busy these days and there are still a couple of matters that I need to take care of before coming back to blogging .Every month I post my top favorites (books, movies, songs, tv shows and the like).

Favorite Book of the Month

Legend by Marie Lu
Yes, yes, I know, I'm probably the last person to read this book.
I am still currently reading this and I love it. Review to come soon! 

February  Playlist
Tiptoe-Imagine Dragons
Bleeding Out-Imagine Dragons
Underdog-Imagine Dragons
Demons-Imagine Dragons
The Lion's Roar-First Aid Kit
Emmylou-First Aid Kit
Good Day Sir-Dave Moisan
Mexico-Dave Moisan
Six Degrees of Separation-The Script
The Man Who Can't Be Moved-The Script (an oldie but a goodie)
Tiny Little Bows-Carly Rae Jepson
Highway Don't Care-Tim McGraw
Be Ok-Ingrid Michaelson
Gone Gone Gone-Phillip Phillips
Coal War-Joshua James
Uncharted-Sara Bariellies
Live and Die-The Avett Brothers
Woodland-The Paper Kites

This month has been slow for me in the music genre, so if anyone have good recommendations  I would love to hear it. As you can tell from this playlist, I have a very diverse taste in music ranging from alternative, to rock, to indie pop, to pop, and country.

TV Show

The Carrie Diaries is a new show recently released by  CW.
It  is  the prequel to Sex and the City. I like it for now but I am not sure if I want  to continue.

Favorite Snack

This is such a healthier alternative to chips, and it taste just as well! 

Almond Roca, so good yet so bad.

    So what are your favorites? Thanks for stopping by, and have a happy March! :)                                          

Feature and Follow #5

Feature & Follow is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. The purpose is to meet new people and gain more followers in the book blogging community. If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers. But you have to know, the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

Thank you to both Parajunkee and Alison Can Read for featuring me! 

Interview Questions:

1. When did you start blogging?

January 2013. I am a newbie though I have been writing reviews on goodreads for a year now.

2. What is your favorite part of book blogging?

Meeting new people. As cliche as that sounds, I love people! Unfortunately, nobody in my life is as much of a book nerd as I am. If I can't find someone to confess my book obsessions to, I'll explode. I think the whole book blog community is a great way for authors,publishers, and readers to get together and share their interest. 

3.What type of books do you mainly blog about?

Mostly YA fantasy, paranormal, and dystopian fiction. I also like adult urban fantasy,paranormal romance, and New Adult romances!

4. What is your favorite book(s)?

Hard question. I really hate choosing favorites.My current favorites are Moira Young's Dustland series, Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone series, Susan Ee's Angelfall, and Ann Aguirre's Razorland series. 

5. What has been the best thing that has happened to you because of book blogging?

You mean besides being featured? Everything! It's hard to say because I am still so new. This answer goes back to question two. I have met some lovely people around here that write very entertaining reviews. Everyone I have met so far is very sweet. I am very excited to make new memories with other bloggers.

Q: We always talk about books that WE want. Let's turn it on its head. What books have you given other people lately?

My close friend ,Lena, loves everything horror. She dragged me to see Mama with her a few weeks ago, let me tell you it was the worst experience ever.  So for her birthday, I gave her Stephen King's The Shining, It, and Carrie. I don't do scary (probably because I have an overactive imagination) but for some crazy reason I love Stephen King!

Leave a link to your FF, so I can check it out. Please let me know if you are a new follower, so I can follow you back. Happy Friday to all!

Top Ten Tuesday #2

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday is looking at our favorite characters in whatever genre you choose. 

1. Penryn from Angelfall

Raffe: “I never kid about my warrior demigod status." 

Penryn:"Oh. My. God." I lower my voice, having forgotten to whisper. "You are nothing but a bird with an attitude. Okay, so you have a few muscles, I’ll grant you that. But you know, a bird is nothing but a barely evolved lizard. That’s what you are.”

2. Rose Hathaway from Vampire Academy

Dimitri: "She might be wild and disrespectful, but if she has potential—"
Rose: "Wild and disrespecful? Who the hell are you anyway? Oursourced help?"
Kirova: "Guardian Belikov is the Princess Lissa's guardian now, her sanctioned guardian."
Rose: "You got cheap foreign labor to protect Lissa?” 

Zoey Deutch as Rose Hathaway in the upcoming movie

3. Saba from Blood Red Road

Saba:“I never knew that missin somebody could hurt, I says. But it does. Deep inside. Like it's in my bones. We ain't never bin apart till now. Never. I dunno how to be without him. It's like... I ain't nuthin.”

Love,love, love her accent. I find that a hit or miss among most readers.

4. Eona from  Eon

Prince Kygo:“I have never heard a lady say 'arse.'"

Eona:"I haven't been a lady for long. For five years I've been saying 'arse.' It's hard to stop saying 'arse' after that many years. I suppose I should stop saying 'arse,' since ladies don't say-"

Kygo:"'Arse',"( he finished for me.) 

 Eona: :)

5. Kate Daniels from Magic Bites

“Not only will you sleep with me, but you will say 'please.'"
I stared at him, shocked. 
The smile widened. "You will say 'please' before and 'thank you' after." 
Nervous laughter bubbled up. "You've gone insane. All that peroxide in your hair finally did your brain in, Goldilocks.” 

6. Karou from Daughter of Smoke and Bone 

Can I have her hair?

7. Rhiannon from Dead, Undead,and Somewhere in Between 

8. Celaena from Glass of Throne

9. Scarlet from Scarlet

10. Goes to all the heroes of these corresponding books!