The Sunday Post #6

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news, recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received, and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

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Good morning! I hope you’ve all had a fantastic week wherever you are. My week was good, although yesterday ended with a family member in the hospital with something that looks pretty unpleasant showing up on his CAT scan. But it’s a new day, a new week, and hopefully everything will sort itself out soon. Now, let’s find out what’s been going on around TNN, shall we?

Monday: Review of Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (4/5 hearts)

Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Wouldn’t Mind Santa Bringing Me

Thursday: ARC Review of Witch Finder by Ruth Warburton (5/5 hearts)

Friday: Life of A Blogger — My Significant Other (meet my fabulous girlfriend, Julia!)

Saturday: Stacking the Shelves #9

Monday: ARC Review of Defy by Sara B. Larson (4/5 hearts)

Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Read in 2013

Wednesday: My 2014 Resolutions

Thursday: Thoughtful Thursday — Writer Dreams

Friday: ARC Review of Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill (still reading!)

Saturday: Stacking the Shelves #10

Gift Cards: I got Barnes & Noble gift cards for Christmas, which basically means I AM THE HAPPIEST PERSON TO EVER HAPPY IN THE HISTORY OF HAPPINESS. Ahem. I’m pretty chuffed.

Insurgent: Barnes & Noble is STILL out of Insurgent, and I’m about to throw things. Violently. However, I’m on the list to be called when they’re back in stock, so hopefully I can get my hands on a copy soon.

2014 Jar of Memories: I’m so excited to do this for 2014 with Julia. We each have a jar (bought from Pier 1 Imports, and they have a super cool chalkboard painted on so you can label the jar) and we’ll write down memories of things we do together and good things that happen in our relationship, both everyday and on special occasions, and then at the end of the year, we’ll get together and open up our jars and read through them and remember. It’s really romantic and kind of sappy, but just such a stinkin’ cute idea. <3

Vicar of Dibley: Last night (or this morning, rather), I went back and rewatched a few episodes of my all-time favorite TV comedy, “Vicar of Dibley”. It’s on Netflix, and if you haven’t seen it, YOU MUST LEAVE THIS POST AND FIX THAT IMMEDIATELY. It’s a tragically short-lived British sitcom about a female vicar in a little village, and it’s so bloody hilarious, you don’t understand.

Sherlock: SHERLOCK COMES BACK THIS WEEK OH MY GOD ASDFGHJKLS. I’m going over to the wifey’s and we’re going to watch it and scream and cry and possibly (read: probably) roll around on the floor in hysterics. It’ll be awesome.

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Until tomorrow! Happy New Year!

Stacking the Shelves #9

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews. It’s a chance to share any books you’ve bought, borrowed, or received in the past 7 days. All of the books on this list are linked to Goodreads.

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Hello! I hope you had a fabulous Christmas. Mine was lovely if you don’t count the lack of snow, and I’m so excited for the new year! I hope it will be one filled with good memories and friends and family for you and me both. But for now, let’s see what books I’ve added to my shelves this week, shall we?

 

Where You’ll Find Me by Erin Fletcher (thanks @ Entangled Teen)

Salt by Danielle Ellison (thanks @ Entangled Teen)

  

Your First Novel: An Author Agent Team Share the Keys to Achieving Your Dream by Ann Rittenburg and Laura Whitcomb

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Alice in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll

  

Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

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So I’m a bit bummed—well, heartbroken is a better word for it—because Insurgent is out of stock at Barnes & Noble. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO GO ON WITH MY LIFE UNTIL YOU HAVE RESTOCKED, YOU @#$%@#!!! But seriously, I don’t think I’ll be able to function properly until I’ve finished the Divergent series. It’s a problem.

Anyway, I’m SO excited about these new goodies. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, and happy new year!

 

Top Ten Books I Wouldn’t Mind Santa Bringing Me

Top Ten Tuesdays is hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish, with a new Top Ten prompt every week. Check it out!

1. Pawn (The Blackcoat Rebellion, #1) by Aimee Carter

2. Splintered (Splintered, #1) by A. G. Howard

3. The Nightmare Affair (The Arkwell Academy, #1) by Mindee Arnett

4. Still Writing: The Perils and Pleasures of A Creative Life by Dani Shapiro

5. Huntress by Malinda Lo

6. The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth

7. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

8. The Archived (The Archived, #1) by Victoria Schwab

9. Some Quiet Place (Some Quiet Place #1) by Kelsey Sutton

10. These Broken Stars (Starbound #1) by Amie Kaufman

You have no idea how hard it was to narrow it down to ten. NO. IDEA. I was looking through my wishlist on Goodreads and I was just like, “Shit, how do people do this?” But I managed it, and I am absurdly proud of myself. Somebody give me a medal.

Meanwhile it’s Christmas Eve. AHHHHHHH!!! Happy holidays, my loves!

Review: Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

How did I get it? Bought

Genre: YA, Romance, Contemporary, Christmas (it is totally a genre you guys, stop judging me)

Summary: “I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.

First things first: I’d never read anything by either Rachel Cohn or David Levithan when I got this book, but let me just say I have two new people on my To-Be-Hugged list.

But on to the book. I feel like I should have adored it; it really had the potential to be a new holiday favorite. But while I really did love it to pieces and I’ll probably reread it a few times during the next few years, it didn’t quite make it up to the level of book I typically build a shrine to. I’m not sure exactly why. It could’ve been because I wasn’t in the right mood, or I was tired, but oh well, I still really enjoyed it. It took me a few days to finish, but while reading I did have a lot of feels and I really fell in love with the story.

Lily was probably my favorite character just because she’s a little bit like me (although I’m actually the oldest child, not the youngest). She’s the sheltered, slightly naive baby of the family, and I loved her enthusiasm for all things Christmas. I loved to see her coming out of her shell and growing up a bit, while still managing to retain that sweet, childlike heart. I liked her instantly and I was rooting for her the entire way. I did like Dash a lot as well, and I really enjoyed his wit and the way he thinks, but there were a few times when he got on my nerves. I was shaking my book and yelling, “YOU IDIOT STOP BEING DIFFICULT!!!” in at least three different scenes.

But this book was, in general, charming. It was original, well-written, and completely hilarious. I mean, if you don’t laugh at the baby stealer part, then you need an intervention.

(Also, because of this book, I have a need to visit the Strand. A mighty need.)

Rating:

Recommend it?

Absolutely.

Purchase Links

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Book Depository

Other Books by the Authors

  

The Sunday Post #5

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news, recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received, and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

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Good morning! I hope you’ve had a fabulous week filled with all the happy things. My own week has been spent shopping, crying over beautiful book bloggers (I’m think of having some sort of Book Blogger Crushes post just so I can get all this feels out in the open), and the burning of my new Peach Bellini candles from Bath & Body Works (anything with a wine glass on it has my automatic approval). Also the drinking of copious amounts of tea thanks to my spiffy new electric tea kettle. <3

Now, let’s see what’s been happening this past week, shall we?

Sunday: The Sunday Post #4

Monday: ARC review of A Dance of Cloaks by David Dalglish (4/5 hearts)

Tuesday: My Holiday To-Do List

Wednesday: Review of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (4/5 hearts)

Waiting on Wednesday (Stormbringer by Shannon Delaney)

Thursday: Thoughtful Thursday — My Favorite Heroines

Friday: Book Blitz of Ondine by Emma Raveling + A GIVEAWAY!

Saturday: Stacking the Shelves #8

Monday: Review of Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (4/5 hearts)

Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday — Books I Wouldn’t Mind Santa Bringing Me

Wednesday: No post because CHRISTMAS!!!! Happy holidays!

Thursday: Review of Witch Finder by Ruth Warburton (5/5 hearts)

Friday: Life of A Blogger — My Significant Other (it’s a week late but shhh)

Saturday: Stacking the Shelves #9  (my Christmas book haul with bookish gifts included)

Gallagher Girls: I FINISHED THE GALLAGHER GIRLS SERIES AND I’M JUST REALLY EMOTIONAL OKAY

No seriously, I cried. Actual tearage you guys. I was so beyond thrilled to see how much Cammie grew from the first book to the sixth; she went from fretting about a boy to freaking SAVING THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT and it was just really well-done and the fifth book especially just blew my mind because I felt so close to her as a character. So anyway, yes, finished the series, cried, loved it, drank comfort tea and ate comfort ice cream and just generally leaked feels all over the place for at least 24 hours. It still makes me blubber just thinking about it.

Double-Stacking My Books: It’s officially come to the point where I cannot fit any more books on my bookcase without stacking them in front of another. Like the double-row thing (which I kind of loathe). So I will be utilizing the book-pile technique until some kind soul on the street hands me a hundred bucks to go buy a second 6-foot-tall bookcase.

Game of Thrones: I found Game of Thrones on HBO On Demand so you guys probably won’t see me for a few weeks. (Just kidding, I’ll be back, blogging is too much fun.)

Holidaysssss: I am so freaking excited for Christmas! I love giving gifts and obviously receiving them is great too, but this entire season is just so jolly and fun, and I love the cold so much more than the heat, so I’m just basking in it all.

The Hobbit: ASDFKJASDLFKJSKDF THIS MOVIE!!! Okay, so it was admittedly kind of not the greatest thing ever; there was some shitty acting and I could not stop laughing in the elf-king’s scenes and I was annoyed by Kili’s romance from pretty much the moment it started. But then there was SMAUG THE AWESOME and is it strange to be attracted to a dragon? Because I was. I blame it on Benedict Cumberbatch’s voice. I swear he could melt glaciers with his smolder. *swoons*

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So anyway, that’s been my week. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday wherever you are, filled with family, good food, and snow!

Stacking the Shelves #8

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews. It’s a chance to share any books you’ve bought, borrowed, or received in the past 7 days. All of the books on this list are linked to Goodreads.

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I hope you’ve had a great week filled with books and holiday cheer! I sort of let go a bit seeing as nobody ever buys me books for Christmas (probably because they assume I have every book ever written) so I decided to find myself some bookish presents. I have no shame.

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee (thanks @ Random House Children’s)

Oh my God, you guys, look at me controlling myself on Netgalley. *throws confetti*

     

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (I know, I’m like 10 years late but whatever)

The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind by Meg Medina

Tales from the Arabian Nights by Richard Francis Burton (not this edition, the Barnes & Noble hardcover one)

Divergent by Veronica Roth (yes, I know I’m late)

United We Spy by Ally Carter (I’m totally NOT going to cry at the ending, I am strong damn it)

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

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The last two books have been on my TBR list for FOREVER so when I found them at my local used bookstore—okay, say what you will about supporting the author, but a) I’m poor, and b) I think of it as a rescue mission to keep books off the shelves of used bookstores and in my loving, underpaid arms—I made an unladylike noise (although when are my noises ever NOT unladylike?) and nearly impaled myself on a display trying to grab them from their respective shelves. CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY YOU GUYS IT’S A THING.

Anyway, that’s what I’ve added to my library this week. I’d love to hear what books you’ve found recently, so link me up in the comments! Happy holidays!

 

My Holiday To-Do List

I always make rather outrageous plans for my month-long winter break. After a semester of horrors, Christmas is exactly what I need to wind down, relax, and enjoy myself. Oh, and make to-do lists. Because I am possibly the most list-oriented person I know. I have a planner with my schedule, post it notes on which I write my daily to-do lists by order of importance, and I also have like 3 Google Calendars and a wall calendar and I LIKE BEING ORGANIZED OKAY. Maybe that’s why I like blogging so much; I get to schedule like there’s no tomorrow. *dreamy sigh*

Anyway, with this fine, festive, festooned holiday which represents any number of things from baby Jesus to snow to Santa Claus to Norse mythology, I tend to make grand schemes.

Buy every sweater on creation.

No seriously. Do you even comprehend the infinite glory that is sweaterland?

Sweaters are one of my absolute favorite parts of winter and they always make me feel cozy and hip and (of course) warm.

Wear Christmas socks.

I have shitloads of holiday-themed footwear and now is the time to rock them. And rock them I will. *puts on war paint*

Do the snow dance once in the morning and once at night. No matter what.

Snow dance definition: Put on every piece of winter clothing you own, go stand outside (preferably in your front yard where there are witnesses), and dance furiously while singing either Jingle Bells or Let It Snow.

Go buy those organic chocolate truffles at Earth Fare because like really, get in my mouth now. *grabby hands* If I could marry these truffles, my girlfriend would be shit outta luck.

Bloggity bloggity bloggity blog. I’ve got reviews done up through January, so now I’m going to work on the other fun stuff for this month! And since there’s no school, I’ll have lots of time to explore other blogs and meet peeps and lurk on Goodreads and Twitter. (Aside: I don’t mean to whine on Twitter. Twitter makes me do it. I mean, really. It’s obviously Twitter’s fault. All that blue? Should be viewed with suspicion. *views suspiciously*)

Watch ALL the Christmas movies. Polar Express, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Santa Claus, Annie, and a few Disney movies. Also Harry Potter because it is never not the right time to watch Harry freakin’ Potter, let’s be real.

Wear the most sickeningly festive nail polish known to man. Right now it’s candy cane red with sparkly green Christmas trees. Up next: ice blue snowflakes awyiss.

Cuddles with my Boo Bear (who is my dog, and I love him, and he is mine).

Listen to Christmas music until I’m thinking in carols.

Read, read, read, and oh did I mention READ? I’m going to read all da books. None shall escape me. I’m going to meet my reading goal, and I’m going to eat, sleep, and breathe books until January. I’m also going to finish the Gallagher Girl series because holy hell, spy school has never been better. And then I’m going to put a dent in my Winter TBR list, and prepare myself for the unholy delights of the 2014 Reading Retellings Challenge (which I am hosting/fangirling over). Join me in my quest to read some spectacular retellings in 2014!

Happy holidays, my lovelies! I hope your week is merry and bright so far, and I hope your reading is as well! Have a sparkling day!

The Sunday Post #4

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news, recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received, and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

Monday: Review of Weather Witch by Shannon Delany (5/5 hearts)

Tuesday: Top Ten Books On My Winter TBR List

Wednesday: WWW Wednesdays #3 (find out what I’m reading!)

Thursday: Flash Review of The Espressologist by Kristina Springer (3/5 hearts)

Friday: Review of Another Little Piece of My Heart by Tracey Martin (4/5 hearts)

Saturday: Stacking the Shelves #7 (find out what books I’ve added to my shelves this week!)

Monday: ARC Review of A Dance of Cloaks by David Dalglish (4/5 hearts)

Tuesday: My Holiday To-Do List

Wednesday: Review of The Fault in Our Stars (4/5 hearts)

Waiting on Wednesday (Stormbringer)

Thursday: Thoughtful Thursday — Heroines I Love

Friday: Book Blitz of Ondine by Emma Raveling

Saturday: Stacking the Shelves #8

2014 Reading Retellings Challenge: I love retellings. Love. Them. So. Much. So I decided to start my own little reading challenge here at TNN for this coming year to read more retellings. There’s so many great ones out there that I haven’t read, such as Cinder by Marissa Meyer or Splintered by A. G. Howard, so 2014 is the year I’m going to dive into these wonderful reads and find out what I’ve been missing! If you’d like to join me, check out this post for more information.

My New Electric Tea Kettle: For my birthday yesterday, my awesome madre bought me an electric tea kettle for my tea-drinking pleasure. I’m over the moon. (It makes ramen too, I mean what.)

No More School: School is over! Winter break is here! Let the outrageous partying begin! (Nah, more like reading of books and drinking of tea alone in my bed. I’m hardcore like that.)

I’m No Longer Dying: So I was sick for over a week with the flu’s lesser-known twin, and after shots, steroids, and profuse bloodletting (jk you guys jk), I am finally in recovery. Of course, I still missed the entire last week of school, which was a bug to deal with, but I’ve just got to make up an exam and a presentation tomorrow, and I’m all finished.

Shop ‘Til I Drop: This week will be shopping, shopping, and more shopping. I have a shopping day with the wifey on Tuesday, accompanied by a night showing of “The Desolation of Smaug” (hell yes), and then most likely multiple outings to the bookstore because it’s there and I am not strong enough to withstand the seductive allure of books.

I hope you all have a fantastic, festive, felicitous week full of good books, good food, and good cheer. Happy Holidays!

Stacking the Shelves #7

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews. It’s a chance to share any books you’ve bought, borrowed, or received in the past 7 days. All of the books on this list are linked to Goodreads.

Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill (thanks @ Delacorte)

       

The Importance of Being Earnest and Four Other Plays by Oscar Wilde (for school)

The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

Literary Britain: A Reader’s Guide to Its Writers and Landmarks by Frank Morley (a birthday gift from my girlfriend)

A collection of Robert Burns poetry (also a birthday gift from my girlfriend, but I couldn’t find the right edition, so Penguin Classics will have to do!)

Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

I was determined to go book-hunting yesterday, and it went quite well. Today is my birthday, so I thought I might as well treat myself to some good books. I’ll honestly probably go back to the bookstore today just because I have no self-control. And also I really need to get on the Divergent series again and stop having to cover my eyes every time somebody mentions Allegiant.

In other news, you think bookcases are unfeeling inanimate objects? I am 99.99% sure I felt my bookcase judging me when I added all eight of these books to one of the last empty little patches of shelf remaining. The struggle is real.

What books have you added to your shelf this week? Link me up in the comments! I’d love to see it! Have a great weekend!

 

Friday Favorites: Christmas Stories

Friday Favorites is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa’s Wishful Endings that spotlights a favorite author, book, series, publisher, cover, blog, etc. Basically whatever bookish thing that you love, recommend, and want to tell others about.

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

Late on Christmas Eve, after the town has gone to sleep, a boy boards a mysterious train that waits for him: the Polar Express bound for the North Pole. When he arrives there, Santa offers him any gift he desires. The boy modestly asks for one bell from the reindeer’s harness. It turns out to be a very special gift, for only believers in Santa can hear it ring.

I watch this with my family every Christmas Eve with hot chocolate and cookies. It’s a fabulous book and a fabulous movie. I love the message and the hope it talks about, and it just makes me really happy. It’s a classic, beautiful story about believing in magic that’s definitely not just aimed at children. When I’m old and gray I will still love this story, and it will always be very special to me.