May 2012 Wrap-Up R.A.K. and Books-Read Post!

The month of May was quite a busy one for me! I had a hard time trying to choose one book to concentrate on... I would continually pick up books and read a chapter or two and then pick up another, just to get a feel for it. I have too many options to choose from, lol! 

Overall, it was a good month :) 

Awesome R.A.K.'s from some wonderful bloggers!!!

- From Montana of The Book Belles, Clarity by Kim Harrington
- From Natalie of Mindful Musings, Deadly Cool (eBook) by Gemma Halliday
- From Barbara of Basia's Bookshelf, Kill Me Softly (eBook) by Sarah Cross
- From Emily of Doodle's Book Blog, Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Thank you all SO very much! 

You guys truly made my month so extra special :)

Here's what I sent...
- To Natalie, Storm by Brigid Kemmerer
- To Laura, Pretty Amy by Lisa Burstein

And a BIG thank you to Book Soulmates for hosting!!!

Be sure to check out Book Soulmates Blog for more deets to participating in their monthly R.A.K.

And a quick wrap up of the books that I read/reviewed this month:
- ReVamped by Ada Adams (review)
- The Enchanted Attic: Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame (review)
- Enchanted by Alethea Konits (review)
- The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty (review)
- Dragonbreath #1 by Ursula Vernon
- Daimon, The Prequel to Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout
- Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout (review to be posted Saturday)
- Someone Else, Somewhere Else (short story) by Jenelle Jack Pierre (review)
- Hound Dog True by Linda Urban (review)
- Brownies and Broomsticks by Bailey Cates (review scheduled for 6/10th)
- Can I Get An Amen? by Sarah Healy (review scheduled for 6/11th)
- Blue Sky Days by Marie Landry (review)
- What a Boy Wants by Nyrae Dawn (review scheduled for 6/4th)
- The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson (re-read)
- The Fairytale Keeper: Avenging the Queen by Andrea Cefalo (review)
- Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (review scheduled for 6/5th))

And I started to read these books and plan on finishing them in June! (Sometimes I just can't decided what to read, lol):
- Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions by numerous authors
- The Taker by Alma Katsu
- Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz
- Belles by Jen Calonita

I really can't complain, it was a good month all around :)

How was yours??? 

Waiting On Wednesday #12: The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by  

Breaking the Spine. 

This is were we get to 'spotlight' books that we are anxiously waiting to be released! The ones that we are dying to get our hands on and read into the wee hours of the night and make our shelves look all pretty :)

The Spindlers 

by Lauren Oliver 

Release Date: October 2nd, 2012

SUMMARY

"When Liza’s younger brother Patrick’s soul is stolen by the evil Spindlers, 
spider-like creatures who live underground, 
she knows she must set out on a heroic quest 
to the world Below to rescue it."

MY THOUGHTS

The thought of spiders creeping and crawling around in a book really gave me the {shivers!}

BUT, Lauren Oliver wrote this book!!! 

AND, these are spiders that are evil creatures who can steal souls?! Really??? 

A definite must read!!! 

Oh, and did I mention how much I love the cover too!? 

I need to know more about this book! 

And I wouldn't mind a few spoilers, because of the whole spider thing, going to need to be sure that these things aren't... nightmarish! LOL, yea, I know it's a middle grade book ;) but considering that spiders have even made grown men cry out, one can never be too safe! 

Can't wait!!! 

What are you waiting for??? 

The Beehive Book News #5: The one with a few adult books, eek!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend to all of our local U.S. friends :) 

We're having a wonderful time relaxing and hanging out with our family! 

Managed to squeeze in a quick vlog today with my boys, we hope you enjoy it! 

Here's a quick summary... 

On the blog last week:

- Giveaway of Wander Dust by Michelle Warren, enter here!
- Waiting On Wednesday: Two and Twenty Dark Tales - Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Tales
- My review of Hound Dog True by Linda Urban
- My review of Blue Sky Days by Marie Landry

Books We got! 
- The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova (YA)
- Fated by Alyson Noel (YA)
- Whisper by Alyson Noel (YA)
- The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter (YA)
- Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter (YA)
- Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood (YA)
- Dark Shadows: The Salem Branch by Lara Parker (Adult)
- The Taker by Alma Katsu (Adult)
- Big Nate: On a Roll by Lincoln Peirce (MG)
- Dinosaur Pet by Neil Sedaka (Children)

Thank you to....
- Amanda of Book Love 101 for the Goddess Interrupted Giveaway :)

Mentions:
- Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program (for grades 1-6)

What to look forward to on the blog next week:
- Possible reviews: Obsidian, Can I Get An Amen?, What a Boy Wants... and maybe The Fairytale Keeper: Avenging the Queen (I'm still reading it, hee hee!)
- Waiting On Wenesday :)
- The Secret Garden Read-a-long with Book Journey... and more bumble-y stuffs!

As always, thank you so much for stopping by! 

Happy reading :) 

A Buzz-Worthy Review: Blue Sky Days by Marie Landry

Sky Blue Days

by Marie Landry 

Release Date: January 5, 2012

Format: eBook, 207 pages 

Publisher: Self-Published

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance 

SUMMARY 

(from Goodreads) 

"A year after graduating from high school, nineteen-year-old Emma Ward feels lost. She has spent most of her life trying to please her frigid, miserable mother - studying hard, getting good grades, avoiding the whole teenage rebellion thing - and now she feels she has no identity beyond that. Because she spent so many years working hard and planning every moment of her life, she doesn't have any friends, has never had a boyfriend, and basically doesn't know who she is or what she really wants from life. Working two part-time jobs to save money for college hasn't helped her make decisions about her future, so she decides it's time for a change. She leaves home to live with her free-spirited, slightly eccentric Aunt Daisy in a small town that makes Emma feel like she's stepped back in time.

When Emma meets Nicholas Shaw, everything changes - he's unlike anyone she's ever met before, the kind of man she didn't even know existed in the 21st century. Carefree and spirited like Daisy, Nicholas teaches Emma to appreciate life, the beauty around her, and to just let go and live. Between Daisy and Nicholas, Emma feels like she belongs somewhere for the first time in her life, and realizes that you don't always need a plan - sometimes life steers you where you're meant to be.

Life is wonderful, an endless string of blue sky days, until Nicholas is diagnosed with cancer, and life changes once again for Emma in ways she never thought possible. Now it's time for her to help Nicholas the way he's helped her. Emma will have to use her new-found strength, and discover along the way if love really is enough to get you through."

MY REVIEW

Oh, Marie Landry, how you made me cry... in a good way!

Blue Sky Days starts with Emma, a 19 year old girl who has reached a point in her life where she has had enough of her controlling mother and doesn't know what to do with her life. Although she excelled in school, she has no idea as to who she is and what she wants to do with the rest of her life.
She then decides that she needs to get away from her mother and experience what life would have been like if she had a loving and supporting mother and was aloud to have friends. No, Emma is not running away from home, this girl really needed to get out on her own away from her miserable mother. And yes, she has a Dad, who was the typical kind of Dad that was in denial and just didn't know what to do with a teen daughter.

Emma decides to move to a small town to live with her Aunt Daisy, her mother's much younger sister. Daisy is sweet, caring, and the complete opposite of Emma's mother - she is how a mother should be.
As Emma is settling into her new surroundings and finally able to relax, she meets Nicholas.
Oh sweet Nicholas, all boys should be like you!
At first, Nicholas seems like he's too good to be true, especially to Emma. But there are some people that are just naturally good-hearted people, and Nicholas and his father are those people. And of course you can't help but smile and you watch Nicholas and Emma's relationship bloom.

Daisy and Nicholas help Emma let go of her fears and experience life's little things, like walking in the rain and going on picnics. Things are starting to feel right and look hopeful for Emma.
And just when life for everyone is at its highest peak, Nicholas gets sick and is diagnosed with cancer.
Emma's life is put to the test again - will she be able to trust her instincts? Will her love for Nicholas be able to save him?

Oh my, did I cry! I felt like I was sitting right there next to them through everything, my heart ached for everyone. I'm getting teary eyed just typing this...

Although, there were a few moments of repetitiveness from Emma. It was understandable. At 19, and not being able to experience your teen years like most teens do, you are entitled to dwell, feel sad and left out.  I still don't understand why that her mother was so domineering and mean, it was never explained... But, the good part is, her determination to move on and live in the moment always won - and that is what I loved about Emma so much.

This is one book that I will never forget. I can't help but compare this story to something that Nicholas Sparks or Richard Paul Evans would right - stories that tug at your heartstrings! 

Grab a box of tissues, your going to love Emma and Nicholas' story!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marie Landry has always been a daydreamer. She has created imaginary worlds for as long as she can remember, so it only seemed natural that she would become a writer. With a passion for words that started in early childhood, Marie has written a varied range of works, and has been freelance writing since 2009. She resides in Ontario, Canada, and most days you can find her writing, reading, blogging about writing and reading, listening to U2, or having grand adventures with her two precious nephews.

Goodreads, Blog, Twitter, Facebook

A "Nobel Beehive Award" Review: Hound Dog True by Linda Urban

Hound Dog True 

by Linda Urban 

Release Date: September 2011

Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books

Book Source: ARC

Available Format(s): Paperback, 160 pages

Genre: MG Contemporary, 9 - 12yo

SUMMARY 

(from Goodreads)

"A story about small acts of courage from the author of A Crooked Kind of Perfect. Do not let a mop sit overnight in water. Fix things before they get too big for fixing. Custodial wisdom: Mattie Breen writes it all down. She has just one week to convince Uncle Potluck to take her on as his custodial apprentice at Mitchell P. Anderson Elementary School. One week until school starts and she has to be the new girl again. But if she can be Uncle Potluck’s apprentice, she’ll have important work to do during lunch and recess. Work that will keep her safely away from the other fifth graders. But when her custodial wisdom goes all wrong, Mattie’s plan comes crashing down. And only then does she begin to see how one small, brave act can lead to a friend who is hound dog true."

MY REVIEW

I truly wish that I had been able to read Hound Dog True as a child. Linda Urban's writing is sweet and refreshing, heartfelt and insightful - a book for all ages to read, experience and be inspired by.

Mattie has one week to adjust before becoming the new kid in school again. She decides that maybe this time it won't be so bad if she can convince her Uncle Potluck, the custodian to her school, to let her become his apprentice in order to avoid any moments to where she would have to be forced to talk to her classmates. She is very observant and records all of their odd jobs in her notebook.
Will her idea work?

Then the neighbors niece comes into town for the week. Mattie's mother and Uncle would like them to be friends. But Mattie is awkward and doesn't know what to do with Quincy who looks to be older and outspoken, the complete opposite of what Mattie is.
Will Mattie be able to trust Quincy to be her friend?

Mattie's mother, although very loving and caring, is flighty and in denial. Her motto being "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." After getting some advice from Uncle Potluck, she decides that it is finally time for her and Mattie to stay put for once. That they weren't going to run anymore 'when the going gets tough'... Mattie doesn't agree at first. She is having a tough time adjusting and wants to get going... will they?

Will Mattie stay "Hound Dog True"?

It is a coming of age story of a painfully shy girl; a fifth grader who overcomes some of her fears by accepting what is, opening up and accepting how good things can be if she allows herself the opportunity.

I truly recommend reading this book!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR



"On New Year's Eve, I write down all the things I want to happen in the year upcoming and then I stick the list behind my mirror. And guess what? For the past few years, most of those things have happened. 
Now, my rational side says that this is because every time I look in that mirror, my subconscious is reminded of what it is I want and encourages me to work all the harder to get it. 
But the other part of my brain knows it is magic."  ~ from Linda's journal 

Goodreads, Official Website, Blog 

A Review for: 

http://littleredreads.blogspot.com/  

Waiting On Wednesday #11: Two And Twenty Dark Tales - Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by  

Breaking the Spine. 

This is were we get to 'spotlight' books that we are anxiously waiting to be released! The ones that we are dying to get our hands on and read into the wee hours of the night and make our shelves look all pretty :)

Two And Twenty Dark Tales: 

Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes 

by Nina Berry, Sarwat Chadda, Shannon Delany, Max Scialdone, Karen Mahoney, Lisa Mantchev, Gretchen McNeil, Francisco X. Stork, K.M. Walton, Suzanne Young, Michelle Zink, Leigh Fallon, Angie Frazier, Jessie Harrell, Nancy Holder, Heidi R. Kling, Suzanne Lazear and Pam van Hylckama Vlieg 

Release Date: October 16th, 2012 

 

"Nursery rhymes sung sweetly can take us back to childhood. 

But deep inside many of those childhood favorites is… 

a hint of something dark. 

TWO AND TWENTY DARK TALES: 

Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes 

imagines dark and sinister things amuck in Mother Goose-land. 

From familiar rhymes, to some of the more obscure, 

TWO AND TWENTY DARK TALES is a must read 

for anyone who enjoyed Mother Goose rhymes as a child, 

but has come to love the darkest of tales."

Do I really need to explain why I want this book SO badly??? 

DARK RETELLINGS OF MOTHER GOOSE RHYMES!!! 

Need I say more???

And look at all of these amazing authors! 

I thought I saw somewhere that a portion of the first few books sold were going to some charity... ??? 

SO, what are you waiting on this week??? 

The Beehive Book News #4: The Late Edition

Hello :)  So sorry for the late post! Lots of happenings going on around here, and I have been too tired to do a video, and you can tell from this video that I'm still too tired to think straight, lol!
and yes, I did get a haircut too! It's a bit messy at the moment, ah well, what can you do ;)
Enjoy, hee hee!!!... 

Here's a quick summary... 

On the blog last week:
- The winner to my Spring Blog Carnival Booth is Lori of Pure Imagination!
- My review of The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty
- Cover Reveal of Protecting Truth - The Seraphina Parrish Trilogy #2 by Michelle Warren
- *GIVEAWAY!!! Wander Dust by Michelle Warren
- My Waiting On Wednesday: Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick
- *My "Love In Bloom" Giveaway! Enter to win a Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard and Blue Sky Days by Marie Landry!
- My review of Someone Else, Somewhere Else by Jenelle Jack Pierre
- Cover Reveal of My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris
- My "Bout of Books" Read-a-thon Wrap-Up Post!

Books I received for review:
- The Fairytale Keeper, Avenging the Queen by Andrea Cefalo (YA)

Books I got!
- Clarity by Kim Harrington (YA)
- Nightshade by Andrea Cremer (YA)
- Cold Fury by T.M. Goeglein (YA)
- Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (YA)
- Belles by Jen Calonita (YA)
- Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore (YA)

Kiddos Books!
- The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy (MG)
- Dragonbreath #1 and Dragonbreath #2: Attacked by the Ninja Frongs by Ursula Vernon (MG)
- Big Nate #1 "In a Class By Himself" and #2 "Strikes Again" by Lincoln Peirce (MG)
- Ninjago "Mask of the Sensei" by Greg Farshtey and Paulo Henrique (Children)
- Ninjago "Rise of the Snakes" and "The Golden Weapons" by Tracey West (Children)
- Brave (The Junior Novelization) by Irene Trimble

Thank you to...
- Montana of The Book Belles for the lovely R.A.K. (Clarity)!!!
- Ashelynn of Gypsy Book Reviews for sending me Nightshade :)
- Lauren of 365 Days of Reading for the giveaway (Cold Fury and Shadow & Bone) and bookmarks!

What to look forward to in the next few days :) 
- Possible reviews: Blue Sky Days and Wanderlove
- My Waiting On Wednesday Post :)
- A signed copy of The Chaperone Giveaway at the Fire & Ice Blog!!!
... and more!!!

Thank you so much for coming by the blog this week!!! 

Happy reading :) 

NEW Cover Reveal: My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris (Excerpt, Trailer & Giveaway!)

Good morning everyone!!!
Have a cover reveal on a Monday morning is such a fab way to start the week :)  

Actually, it is a "re-cover reveal" for My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris!!!
You can see the original cover here! and I have to be honest, I am really loving the newer cover so much better! The scenery and addition of the backpack - all very intriguing!
Keep reading for a never-before-seen excerpt AND trailer!!!
And don't forget to enter into Rachel's giveaway too!!!
Rachel is giving away a backpack full of signed swag!

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century
by Rachel Harris

Release Date: September 11th, 2012
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Genre: Young Adult Historical Romance 

Summary

"On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze.

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore. 

Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?" 

Never-Before-Seen Excerpt

“I thought I’d teach you a dance from where I come from,” I tell him. “One that’s much easier than that multi-step mess inside.”

            I place my left hand on Lorenzo’s shoulder and slip my right one into his. I pause to listen to the music floating over the tinkling voices and bubbling fountain, and begin counting the three-beat tempo. “One, two, three. One, two, three.”

            I stand still, only my head moving, slowly nodding with my words so he can hear the rhythm.

            When his head begins subtly bobbing with mine, I show him how to add his feet. He takes a tentative step forward with his left while I step back with my right, then we side step, close, and repeat the steps with our other feet, all while I lightly whisper the beat count.

            The breeze picks up, blowing my skirt and skimming my veil across the back of my neck. Chills run down my spine, but the warmth coursing through my veins from being in his arms provides a delicious contradiction.

            Lorenzo continues nervously darting his eyes to our feet, but he is dancing. As he relaxes into the movement, his shoulders rising and falling with the steps, the confidence he always seems to exude creeps back on his face, and he tightens the hold around me. Our faces are kissably close, our lips a hairs breadth away from touching. I stare into the chocolate depths of his eyes and the rest of the ball fades away. The only music guiding our steps is my light whisper and the erratic rhythm of our breathing. Time slows. Lorenzo grins.

            “I think you got it,” I say breathlessly, running my hand along the soft fabric of his shoulder, feeling the rock-hard muscles underneath.

            My body curls inward, pressing against his. The proper form for the waltz is a straight spine and shoulders back, but if there was ever a time to break the rules, this is it.  

TRAILER

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

As a teen, I threw raging parties that shook my parents’ walls and created embarrassing fodder for future YA novels.

As an adult, I read and write obsessively, rehash said embarrassing fodder, and dream up characters who become my imaginary friends.

When I'm not typing furiously or flipping pages in an enthralling romance, you can find me homeschooling my two beautiful princesses, hanging out with my amazing husband, or taking a hot bubble bath…next to a pile of chocolate.

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century is my first novel. I did have my own fantabulous Sweet Sixteen in high school. Sadly, it wasn’t televised.

Official Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

So, what do you think of the new cover??? 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My "Bout of Books" Read-a-thon Wrap Up!

The read-a-thon with Bout of Books is now over!
I really did enjoy myself - it was SO much fun! I'm really sorry I didn't get to comment as much as I wanted to due to all the family stuff that had been going on since Thursday, but I feel that I did the best that I could in participation and reading... I'm hoping for next time I won't have any distractions aka family events, lol! and feel that I will definitely be more prepared to set aside some reading time and concentrate solely on one book at a time from my set list :)
This week I managed to read one young adult book, 1 adult book, 1 middle grade book, a few short stories and a prequel - not too bad for me! And that is not including the few books that I read the first fe chapters to just so I can get a feel for what I'll be reading in the near future ;) 
... I'm trying really hard not to compare myself to those who were able to read 5 or more novels, lol! 

It was so wonderful to chat with a few participants and have now added a few more inspiring bloggers to my follow list :) 

And a big thank you to all who hosted and organized everything! 

It was exactly what I had expected it to be and I cannot wait to do it again :)

PS, posted below, you can see what my goals were and my updates throughout the week!!!

***************************************

Hi there :) Guess what??? I have decided to do my first read-a-thon with Bout of Books!!! 

Bouts of Books Blog

Bout of Books is a week long read-a-thon from Monday 5/14th to 5/20th. 

It's a week were we are determined to push ourselves to read as much as we can at our own pace! 

My (updated 5/16th) goals for the week are... 

- I really want to be able to read more than 2/3 books in a week! I tend to procrastinate in-between books, never able to just choose my next book quickly enough, lol! I'm hoping that with this list, I will stick with it and get through all of them (or at least 4/5 of them) so I can put a good dent in my current TBR :)
- I hope to post my updates daily!
- And I also hope to comment as much as I can on fellow read-a-thoners too! We can all use some encouragement this week :)
- Also hoping to stay off the internet a bit more... Pinterest? Twitter? Oh my, they are so evil, ha!

The Books I hope to read are...
- Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon... finished on 5/15th 
- Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout (re-read)... finished on 5/16th 
- Daimon, The Prequel to Half Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout... finished on 5/16th
- Someone Else, Somewhere Else by Jenelle Jack Pierre (short story)... read on 5/17th

- Brownies and Broomsticks by Bailey Cates... finished on 5/20th

- The Taker by Alma Katsu... read up to page 57
- Can I Get An Amen? by Sarah Healy (for review)... up to page 28
- Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions by Numerous Authors... up to page 132

- The Fairytale Keeper: Avenging the Queen by Andrea Cefalo... up to page 31

- The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross (finish reading) X

- Gilt by Katherine Longshore (for review) X

And here are my updates for the week: 

5/14th

Number of books I've read today: 1/2 of one book :(  Only 162pages.

Total number of books I've read: 0

Books: Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I'm thinking... that I should have gone with smaller books ;) I'm not complaining though... being called Kitten is pretty awesome, hee hee! 

5/15th 

Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 1
Books: Read Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon
- read 28 pages of Enthralled: Giovanni's Farewell by Claudia Gray
- read 36 pages of Obsidian by Jennifer Armentrout

I'm thinking... I picked the wrong week to do a book-a-thon, lol! So many distractions and we're having a family event on Saturday and that is all I can think about, and get things read for. I thought I would relax with good reads before then... hoping to do so tomorrow and Thursday. Even so, it was fun to read a middle grade book after my kiddo finished it just to see what he was all excited about - I feel accomplished getting a whole book read in one day, even if it is just a middle grade book :)
Oh, and I'm thinking that I may have to ban myself from Twitter tomorrow too, lol!

5/16th 

Number of books I've read today: 2 1/2
Total number of books I've read: 3
Books:
- Finished reading Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout
- Read Daimon: The Prequel to Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout
- read pages 29-56 of Enthralled: Scenic Route by Carrie Ryan

I'm thinking... I'm finally getting into a reading-rhythm and feel really accomplished today! Feels so good!
I am also enjoying chatting with all the other read-a-thon-ers! It's been a pleasure to "meet" so many of you!!!
Still reading Enthralled, I'm trying to read a short story per day :)
and will start reading Brownies and Broomsticks tomorrow!

5/17th 

Number of books I've read today: 2 short stories
Total number of books I've read: 3
Books: 
- Someone Else, Somewhere Else by Jenelle Jack Pierre (short story)
- read pages 57-77 of Enthralled: Red Rum by Kami Garcia

I'm thinking... nothing, lol! I really didn't realize how much I had to do for our family event on Saturday morning! I wish I had the energy to read more...

5/18th 

Number of books I've read today: 0
Total number of books I've read: 3
Books: None :(

I'm thinking... I really failed today. I didn't even have time to read a bedtime story to my kiddos today {yawn!}

5/19th

Number of books I've read today: 0
Total number of books I've read: 3
Books:
- read pages 78 - 106 of Enthralled: Things About Love by Jackson Pearce
- read pages 1-108 of Brownies and Broomsticks by Bailey Cates
- read pages 1-57 of The Taker by Alma Katsu
- read pages 1-28 of Can I Get An Amen? by Sarah Healy

I'm thinking... I can't really concentrate when I'm super tired, lol! Today's family event was beautiful! It was over by 2pm and we took a ride to the bookstore and grabbed an early dinner. I tried to relax with a book, but as you can see by my list, I couldn't get dive into one... decisions, decisions, lol!

5/20th 

Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 4
Books:
- finished reading Brownies and Broomsticks by Bailey Cates
- read pages 107-132 of Enthralled: Niederwald by Rachel Vincent
- read pages 1-31 of The Fairytale Keeper: Avenging the Queen by Andrea Cefalo

I'm thinking... that I should stick with one book at a time, lol! I probably would have finished another book if I did!

A Book Tour: Someone Else, Somewhere Else by Jenelle Jack Pierre

Welcome to day one to the Someone Else Somewhere Else Virtual Tour!

Someone Else Somewhere Else 

by Jenelle Jack Pierre 

Release Date: February 15th, 2012 

Format: eBook 

Publisher: Self-published by Jenelle Jack Pierre 

SUMMARY

“Though we were four years younger than Ariya, we’d watched teenagers before at an older cousin’s house. They talked on the phone, they texted their boyfriends, they watched movies on DVDs. Sometimes, they tidied up the house by wiping the table with a damp sponge after feeding us, removing the crumbs and ring spots from the bottom of our glasses. But we’d never seen any of them work like Ariya did.”

Twin sisters. Stepdaughters. Neighbors. In this short fiction, the lives of the twins are forever changed when their mother remarries and they move next door to a family unlike their own. Could their lives have been different with a flip of a coin?"

MY REVIEW

What I love about short stories is, well... how short they are, lol!
What I sometimes dislike about short stories... how short they are!
And in the case of Someone Else, Somewhere Else - I really do wish that it was longer...

The story is about twin sisters that live with their mother and step-father, who have just moved to a new small town located on the island of Antigua.
Throughout the story, the girls names are never mentioned - they are oftentimes referred to as 'girls'. I have to admit, I'm a stickler with names. But in this story, I did not even notice the lack of information until I had finished reading it and had to think about it.

Pierre's writing style flows prettily. Very descriptive and inviting.
The girls are at a curious age were they notice all the little details and want to know why.
They spend a great deal at their neighbors house, even though their parents know what is going on, which confused me a bit. As a parent, if I suspected any type of odd behavior or abuse, I truly believe that I would not allow my children to be near the situation.
I was also under the impression that the story was taking place in the past - with laundry being hung out in the back and potato peeling being done on the front steps, until there was mention of the children sitting in the living room playing Xbox.

In the end, I really did wish that the story would have continued. I would have liked to have really gotten to know the girls (perhaps their names too, lol), see what they would have thought about what they had discovered with what had happened next door and whether or not they were still aloud to continue to be friends with them.

Hopefully Pierre will turn this short story into a novel someday. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

"I was born in Trinidad and raised in Maryland. My parents encouraged my love of reading with lots of books. I’m an only child, which means I’m good at board games, especially Scrabble.

I started writing as a way to entertain myself, mostly poetry. I majored in Communication Studies at the University of Maryland, College Park and after college, I became a media researcher (radio) at a PR software company. Soon after that, I interned and studied writing at Johns Hopkins University.

Before I Breathe is my first YA novel.  I also write contemporary short stories.

I have a variety of interests apart from writing, including reading, hanging out with my husband, cooking, and traveling." 

Official Website, Goodreads, Twitter  


Someone Else, Somewhere Else is available now for Free on Amazon, BN.com and iTunes. 

TOUR DATES:
May 20 Tour Stop & Giveaway: Margie, Bumbles and Fairy-Tales 

May 22  Tour Stop & Giveaway: Melissa, adventures of frugal mom 

May 24  Tour Stop & Giveaway: Reena, Ramblings of an Amateur Writer 

May 25  Tour Stop & Giveaway: Ali, Ali's Bookshelf 

May 26  Tour Stop & Giveaway: Mary Ann, All Things Writing 

A Promo/Blog Tour for: 

http://innovativeonlinebooktours.com/

Thanks you for stopping by today!
Happy reading :) 

WIN Wonderlove by Kirsten Hubbard and Blue Sky Days by Marie Landry in the Love In Bloom Giveaway Hop! (INT)

Hi there! This week, Bumbles and Fairy-Tales is joining in on the...  

"Love In Bloom" Giveaway Hop!!!

Hosted by Kathy of I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

Summer is almost here, and what better way to start the summer than with a sweet contemporary book... one with discovery and growth in the middle of paradise... the other, a true romantic but a bit weepy, lol! Either way, if it's good, it's good - right?!

Here are the TWO books that you can win:
   

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard 

SUMMARY
(from Goodreads)
It all begins with a stupid question:
Are you a Global Vagabond?

"No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.

Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward.

But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.

Kirsten Hubbard lends her artistry to this ultimate backpacker novel, weaving her drawings into the text. Her career as a travel writer and her experiences as a real-life vagabond backpacking Central America are deeply seeded in this inspiring story."

* * *
AND!!! in addition Wanderlove you will also receive...
Blue Sky Days by Marie Landry for your Nook or Kindle!

SUMMARY
(from Goodreads)
"A year after graduating from high school, nineteen-year-old Emma Ward feels lost. She has spent most of her life trying to please her frigid, miserable mother - studying hard, getting good grades, avoiding the whole teenage rebellion thing - and now she feels she has no identity beyond that. Because she spent so many years working hard and planning every moment of her life, she doesn't have any friends, has never had a boyfriend, and basically doesn't know who she is or what she really wants from life. Working two part-time jobs to save money for college hasn't helped her make decisions about her future, so she decides it's time for a change. She leaves home to live with her free-spirited, slightly eccentric Aunt Daisy in a small town that makes Emma feel like she's stepped back in time. 

When Emma meets Nicholas Shaw, everything changes - he's unlike anyone she's ever met before, the kind of man she didn't even know existed in the 21st century. Carefree and spirited like Daisy, Nicholas teaches Emma to appreciate life, the beauty around her, and to just let go and live. Between Daisy and Nicholas, Emma feels like she belongs somewhere for the first time in her life, and realizes that you don't always need a plan - sometimes life steers you where you're meant to be. 

Life is wonderful, an endless string of blue sky days, until Nicholas is diagnosed with cancer, and life changes once again for Emma in ways she never thought possible. Now it's time for her to help Nicholas the way he's helped her. Emma will have to use her new-found strength, and discover along the way if love really is enough to get you through."


Thanks for stopping by and good luck :)

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Waiting On Wednesday #10: Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by  

Breaking the Spine. 

This is were we get to 'spotlight' books that we are anxiously waiting to be released! The ones that we are dying to get our hands on and read into the wee hours of the night and make our shelves look all pretty :)

FINALE 

by Becca Fitzpatrick 

Release Date: 10/23/2012

 "Nora is more certain than ever that she is in love with Patch. Fallen angel or no, he is the one for her. Her heritage and destiny may mean that they will always be enemies, but there is no turning her back on him. But now they face their biggest challenge. Can their love survive a seemingly insurmountable divide. And in the end, will there be enough trust left to rebuild what has been broken? The lines are drawn - but which sides are they on?"

Oh, Patch... 

Ok, I have to admit, Silence did not live up to most of our expectations, but I am truly excited to see how this series ends!

Oh! and from Hush, Hush's Facebook Page: 

"FINALE Cover News!!!"  The FINALE cover will be revealed on June 6th at BEA 
before Becca's signing! 

I am SO super excited!!! 

It just so happens that June 6th is the only day that I can make it in to BEA!!! 

I can't wait to get a peek of it :) 

SO, what are you currently waiting on???