The Sunday Post #6

Posted in The Sunday Post by S. L. Bond

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.

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.

Until tomorrow! Happy New Year!

22Dec2013

The Sunday Post #5

Posted in The Sunday Post by S. L. Bond

Sunday Post

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*

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!

15Dec2013

The Sunday Post #4

Posted in The Sunday Post by S. L. Bond

The Sunday Post

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.)

Aroma Hot H20 X-Press 7-Cup Stainless Steel Electric Kettle

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!

17Nov2013

The Sunday Post #2

Posted in The Sunday Post by S. L. Bond

Ivy Lune has lived in isolation the majority of her life. Imprisoned by her aunt and cousins, she longs to escape the shackles of her prison-like life. Unknown to her, there are dangerous forces at work; old blood ties and murderous plots threaten her chance at happiness beyond her current life.

Read my full review of The Hazel Tree here.

Author Spotlight: Check out my interview with the lovely Julia Debski, who recently self-published her first novel, The Hazel Tree.

WWW Wednesday #1: Check this out if you’d like to know what I’ve been reading! I’d also love some suggestions on what to add to my shelf next; I’m always on the prowl for good books.

Thoughtful Thursday #1: In which I discuss the pantsing vs. plotting dilemma that all writers face.

Friday Finds #1: Want to see some books I’ve been adding to my TBR pile (but haven’t bought yet)? Here you go!

Okay, basically this book is about two people, Ellie and Collin, descended from two other people who, a few hundred years ago, did a curse wrong and made the spirit world go boom (kind of). And now Ellie and Collin have to keep the un-boomed spirit world from killing everything on earth ’cause they hatin’. Oh, and there’s sex.

That was possibly the worst summary ever, but the official one is too long. I regret nothing.

My review will be posted tomorrow (Monday), and The Curse Keepers comes out on Tuesday, so if you’re into Native American lore and badass Virginian gals, take a look!

Top Ten Tuesday #3: Top Ten Books I’d Recommend to My 13-Year-Old Sister

This is the kind of Cinderella retelling I can get behind. This story taught me the following: princes are overrated, fairies are the scariest things ever, and my new career goal is to become a huntress.

You can check out my review of this fabulous take on a classic fairytale this Wednesday.

In which I discuss the boxes writers are put into, not just by others but by ourselves, and in which I have a tiny rant about the absurdity of trying to “conform” as a writer.

Books, books, books! Want to know what books I’ve added to my shelf this week? Check in on Saturday and I’ll give you all the details!

What I’m Reading: Well, let’s get the boring out of the way first. I’m reading Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad for my lit class, and I’m not really a fan because everything about it is so bloody intentional. I mean, I know you’re a literary man, Mr. Conrad, but there’s this thing called subtlety that you should really try sometime.

I’m also elbow-deep in A Dance of Cloaks by David Dalglish (thank you Netgalley), and it’s pretty good so far.

2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge: I’ve decided to join this year’s TBR Pile Reading Challenge hosted by the lovely Evie over at Bookish. I’ll be posting more information this Friday about the challenge, what my goals are, what books I’m planning on reading, etc. If you’d like to sign up and get cracking on that TBR pile of yours too, sign ups end on December 15, so go ahead and check it out!

Writing for Christmas: I’ve decided that for Christmas, I will be writing short stories/poems for people both as a money-saver and as a good writing exercise. I’m super excited, and I’ve been brainstorming ideas for a while now.

Philadelphia was awesome. I went at the perfect time, because it was in the prime of fall and everything was colorful and gorgeous. It was rather cold, but I really didn’t mind it, especially since I was doing so much walking. And the flight time gave me the opportunity to do a bit of reading, which I’m glad for since this week has been so busy.

Thanksgiving=school break=happy Sam.

I can’t even explain why I love this show so much. I just do. I mean, GUH. If you haven’t watched it, what the hell are you doing reading this post? You could be halfway through the pilot episode by now!

I hope you had a great week and if not, I hope this week makes up for it! Happy reading!

3Nov2013

The Sunday Post #1

Posted in The Sunday Post by S. L. Bond

“Cat, this is Finn. He’s going to be your tutor.”

Finn looks and acts human, though he has no desire to be. He was programmed to assist his owners, and performs his duties to perfection. A billion-dollar construct, his primary task is now to tutor Cat. As she grows into a beautiful young woman, Finn is her guardian, her constant companion…and more. But when the government grants rights to the ever-increasing robot population, however, Finn struggles to find his place in the world, and in Cat’s heart.

Read my full review of The Mad Scientist’s Daughter by Cassandra Rose Clarke here.

Top Ten Tuesday #2: Come see my Top Ten Books to Read for Halloween!

In this post, I offered up three questions that I personally think are really important to think about when you’re working on a novel no matter where you are in the process. These questions can also be applied to short stories, poems, screenplays, etc.

You can find that post here.

I’m participating in Netgalley November! This month I’m going to do my best to get my Netgalley feedback to 80% and get those ARCs read and reviewed. Find the announcement here.

Stacking the Shelves #3: A post sharing the books I bought, borrowed, and received last week.

Review: Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff that Made Me Famous by Kathryn Williams

Can a spot on a teen reality show really lead to a scholarship at an elite cooking school AND a summer romance?
Sixteen-year-old Sophie Nicolaides was practically raised in the kitchen of her family’s Italian-Greek restaurant, Taverna Ristorante. When her best friend, Alex, tries to convince her to audition for a new reality show, Teen Test Kitchen, Sophie is reluctant. But the prize includes a full scholarship to one of America’s finest culinary schools and a summer in Napa, California, not to mention fame.
Once on-set, Sophie immediately finds herself in the thick of the drama—including a secret burn book, cutthroat celebrity judges, and a very cute French chef. Sophie must figure out a way to survive all the heat and still stay true to herself. A terrific YA offering–fresh, fun, and sprinkled with romance.

Check out my review of Kathryn Williams’s YA novel Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff that Made Me Famous, coming this Tuesday!

ARC Review: Damselfly by Jennie Bates Bozic

In 2065, the Lilliput Project created Lina – the first six-inch-tall winged girl – as the solution to a worldwide energy and food crisis. Isolated in a compound amidst the forests of Denmark, Lina has grown up aware of only one purpose: learn how to survive in a world filled with hawks, bumblebees, and loneliness. However, on the eve of her sixteenth birthday, she discovers that she’s not the only teenager her size. Six ‘Toms’ were created shortly after Lina, and now her creators need to prove to the world that tiny people are the next logical step in human evolution. In other words, they need to prove that reproduction is possible.
Um. No thanks. Lina’s already fallen in love with a boy she met online named Jack. Only he has no idea that thumbelina1847 could literally fit inside his heart…more

Check out my review of Jennie Bates Bozic’s YA novel Damselfly, coming this Thursday!

Stacking the Shelves #4: A post sharing the books I buy, borrow, and receive this week.

What I’m Reading

The wall between our world and that of vengeful spirits has protected humanity for more than 400 years. It’s about to come crashing down.
Ellie Lancaster has lived her whole life by the site of the mysterious Lost Colony of Roanoke, the Virginia settlement that vanished without a trace around 1590. Only the descendants of the two men who banished the spirits of an enemy tribe from the material realm know what really happened to the colony. Ellie is one of those descendants—a Curse Keeper. Her father took pains to teach her what he knew of the curse and the responsibilities of its guardians. He taught her that if the two Curse Keepers ever meet, the curse will be lifted, the gate will open, and the raging Native American spirits will be unleashed to seek their revenge…more

My review should be up on Monday, November 18!

Dear Anthony:
I appreciate your recent interest, but I’m not accepting applications at this time. Your letter will be kept in our files and someone will get back to you if there is an opening. Thank you for thinking of me.
Respectfully,
Alejandra Perez
P.S. It’s not Allie. It’s Alé.

Meet T.C., who is valiantly attempting to get Alejandra to fall in love with him; Aléjandra, who is playing hard to get and is busy trying to sashay out from under the responsibilities of being a diplomat’s daughter; and T.C.’s brother Augie, who is gay and in love and everyone knows it but him.

Review coming soon!

My Bookcase’s Heroic Journey:

So originally I kept my bookcase in the guest room because there wasn’t enough room in my bedroom for it, but over the weekend my mom and I moved some furniture and did some math and now I have a 6-foot bookcase in all its glory within my cave. I also did a bit of a reaping session and gathered about 60 books that I didn’t want and 50 or so more that I wanted to store at a family member’s house, which left me with…well, not much wiggle room, but a teensy bit. I’m really excited because having shelves and shelves of books mere feet away from my bed leaves me no excuse not to read.

Have I mentioned my obsession with Reign? Because seriously, I AM OBSESSED. It’s like all my actor babies joined the same Club Awesome and said “Let’s make Sam fangirl” and boom, a TV show was born.

My favorite season is here!!!

I’ll be going to Philadelphia next week, which I’m super excited about because a) I’ve never been, b) Philadelphia is one of America’s most historic cities and I’m going to be having all kinds of nerdgasms, and c) I’ll get like 6 hours of flight time, aka reading time.

That’s all for now! I hope you had a great week, and I’d love to know what you’re up to this week, so let me know in the comments! See you on Tuesday!