Thursday, January 28, 2016

January Rewind

» This month I.... «

Rang in the New Year with my family.

Celebrated by brother's 22nd birthday.

Participated in Bout of Books 15.

Began putting together a few ideas for my novel.

Started the 365 Project!

Reconnected with an old friend.

January Snapshots:*

http://the365-project.tumblr.com/post/136712442306/even-though-i-despise-winter-with-a-passion-there
http://the365-project.tumblr.com/post/136564256016/with-my-parents-out-of-town-four-times-a-week

http://the365-project.tumblr.com/post/137182019556/january-11-2016-i-am-not-made-for-such-cold
http://the365-project.tumblr.com/post/137458057726/january-16-2016-another-135-hour-work-day-under


*Some of these are linked to a 365 Project post on Tumblr. Click on the photograph to be taken to the original post!

» Book(s) I've Been Reading «




» Movies/Shows I've Been Watching «

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1567432/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Teen Wolf season 5 has begun and I am SO excited to see where the story goes. Things kind of fell apart for the characters last season.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1051220/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

I didn't expect to love this show as much as I currently do. It's brand new—on its very first season—and I am getting some serious Lord of the Rings vibes. Hopefully my excitement and love for the characters and this world continue.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2661044/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

The 100 is back with season 3!!! I wasn't too impressed with the newest episode, but the trailers and sneak peeks look amazing. Hopefully the show doesn't let me down!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1587310/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1





I saw this movie for the first time a few days ago and really liked the changes. Definitely a new favorite of mine!









» Songs I've Been Listening To «



I have had this song stuck in my head since New Years Eve.


» Other Favorites «

https://www.youtube.com/user/LeFloofTV

I've been a fan of the SacconeJolys for a while (Anna was in one of my Monthly Rewind posts a few months back), but I have recently started watching them again in an attempt to catch up on what they've been up to. They are Youtube daily vloggers and have the cutest little family ever.







Animal Crossing: New Leaf; current favorite 3DS game.











I have been obsessed with the Smucker's Uncrustables PB&(strawberry)J sandwiches lately! They are SO. GOOD.








» What I've Been Up to On Youtube «



2016 Reading Goals

Book Haul

Disappointing Eye Candy | T5W




What have you guys been loving?

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Most Anticipated Releases of 2016!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20983362-passenger?from_search=true&search_version=service

Author: Alexandra Bracken
Series: Passenger #1
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Release Date: January 5, 2016
Pages: 496




In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never heard of. Until now.

Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods—a powerful family in the colonies—and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them— whether she wants to or not.

Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are play­ing, treacherous forces threaten to sep­arate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home . . . forever.


Notes: After The Darkest Minds trilogy, I will pretty much buy anything that Alexandra Bracken writes.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25689074-stars-above?from_search=true&search_version=service


Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles (novella bind-up)
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: February 2, 2016
Pages: 304



The enchantment continues....

The universe of the Lunar Chronicles holds stories—and secrets—that are wondrous, vicious, and romantic. How did Cinder first arrive in New Beijing? How did the brooding soldier Wolf transform from young man to killer? When did Princess Winter and the palace guard Jacin realize their destinies?


Notes: BUYING FOR THE EPILOGUE NOVELLA!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20764879-a-gathering-of-shadows?from_search=true&search_version=service

Author: V.E. Schwab
Series: A Darker Shade of Magic #2
Publisher: Tor
Release Date: February 23, 2016
Pages: 512




Four months have passed since the shadow stone fell into Kell’s possession. Four months since his path crossed with Delilah Bard. Four months since Rhy was wounded and the Dane twins fell, and the stone was cast with Holland’s dying body through the rift, and into Black London.

In many ways, things have almost returned to normal, though Rhy is more sober, and Kell is now plagued by his guilt. Restless, and having given up smuggling, Kell is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila, who disappeared from the docks like she always meant to do. As Red London finalizes preparations for the Element Games—an extravagant international competition of magic, meant to entertain and keep healthy the ties between neighboring countries—a certain pirate ship draws closer, carrying old friends back into port.

But while Red London is caught up in the pageantry and thrills of the Games, another London is coming back to life, and those who were thought to be forever gone have returned. After all, a shadow that was gone in the night reappears in the morning, and so it seems Black London has risen again—meaning that another London must fall.


Notes: A Darker Shade of Magic was one of my favorite reads of 2015; I cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel!!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25494343-lady-midnight?from_search=true&search_version=service

Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Dark Artifices #1
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release Date: March 8, 2016
Pages: 720




It’s been five years since the events of the Mortal Instruments when Nephilim stood poised on the brink of oblivion and Shadowhunter Emma Carstairs lost her parents. After the blood and violence she witnessed as a child, Emma has dedicated her life to to discovering exactly what it was that killed her parents and getting her revenge.

Raised in the Los Angeles Institute with the Blackthorn family, Emma is paired as a parabatai with her best friend, Julian Blackthorn. A series of murders in the city catch her attention — they seem to have the same characteristics as the deaths of her parents. Could the murderer be the same person? And her attention isn’t the only one caught: someone has been murdering Downworlders as well. The Fair Folk make a deal with the Institute: if the Blackthorns and Emma will investigate the killings, they’ll return Mark Blackthorn to his home. The catch: they have only two weeks to find the killers. Otherwise it’s open war between faeries and Nephilim.

The Shadowhunters of the Institute must race against time to catch the killers, even as they begin to suspect the involvement of those closest to them. At the same time, Emma is falling in love with the one person in the world she’s absolutely forbidden by Shadowhunter Law to love. Set against the glittering backdrop of present-day Los Angeles, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches from the warlock-run nightclubs of the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica.


Notes: Even though I have yet to read the final book in The Mortal Instruments series and absolutely nothing can compare to Clare's Infernal Devices trilogy, I will probably pick this book up at some point and am looking forward to seeing where the story goes.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18602406-yellow-brick-war?from_search=true&search_version=service

Author: Danielle Paige
Series: Dorothy Must Die #3
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: March 15, 2016
Pages: 432




In this dark, action-packed third book in the New York Times bestselling Dorothy Must Die series, Amy Gumm—the new girl from Kansas—must do everything in her power to save Kansas, kill Dorothy, and make Oz a free land once more.

Amy Gumm’s mission to take down Dorothy Gale is not going according to plan. Dorothy has found a way to bridge the worlds of Oz and Kansas, and if the power-hungry dictator of Oz has her way, Kansas will be destroyed forever. Now, Amy has to team up with the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked to save her home, restore the balance between the magic and nonmagic worlds, maybe get the guy—and kill that not-so-sweet Kansas farm girl once and for all.


Notes: I had a lot of problems with the previous book but I do still really like this series and cannot wait to see what happens next.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25518205-lady-renegades?from_search=true&search_version=service

Author: Rachel Hawkins
Series: Rebel Belle #3
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Release Date: April 5, 2016
Pages: 352



Just as Harper Price starts coming to terms with her role as David Stark's battle-ready Paladin, protector, and girlfriend—her world goes crazy all over again. 

Overwhelmed by his Oracle powers, David flees Pine Grove and starts turning teenaged girls into Paladins—and these young ladies seem to think that Harper is the enemy David needs protecting from.  Ordinarily, Harper would be able to fight off any Paladin who comes her way, but her powers have been dwindling since David left town, which means her life is on the line yet again.

Now, it’s a desperate race for Harper to find and rescue David before she backslides from superhero to your garden-variety type-A belle.


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16131489-the-last-star?from_search=true&search_version=service

Author: Rick Yancey
Series: The 5th Wave #3
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 24, 2016
Pages: 368



We’re here, then we’re gone, and that was true before they came. That’s always been true. The Others didn’t invent death; they just perfected it. Gave death a face to put back in our face, because they knew that was the only way to crush us. It won’t end on any continent or ocean, no mountain or plain, jungle or desert. It will end where it began, where it had been from the beginning, on the battlefield of the last beating human heart.

Master storyteller Rick Yancey invokes triumph, loss, and unrelenting action as the fate of the planet is decided in the conclusion to this epic series.


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26874946-the-hammer-of-thor?from_search=true&search_version=service

Author: Rick Riordan
Series: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #2
Publisher: Disney Hyperion Books
Release Date: October 4, 2016
Pages: Unknown





https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18584855-heartless?from_search=true&search_version=service

Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: Unknown
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Release Date: November 18, 2016
Pages: 416




Long before she was the terror of Wonderland — the infamous Queen of Hearts — she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the yet-unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend and supply the Kingdom of Hearts with delectable pastries and confections. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next Queen.

At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the king's marriage proposal, she meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship.

Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.


Notes: Marissa Meyer and Alice in Wonderland? Uh, YES PLEASE!


. . . .

What books are you most looking forward to this year?

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Teaser Tuesdsay [January 12]


Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Jenn of A Daily Rhythm. All you have to do is grab your current read, open to a random page, and share two teaser sentences (that don't give too much away).



This week's teaser:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18241263-the-fall

 I throw back my head and scream. Somewhere in the house above, there is one who hears me. The one who buried me alive.

The Fall by Bethany Griffin

Bout of Books 15: Wrap-up!

Bout of Books

Bout of Books 15 is over!! :( Though I did not get much reading done, I am terribly sad at the prospect of having to say goodbye to such a wonderful read-a-thon for another few months!



» Bout of Books 15 Wrap-up «

TBR:

Finish The Wondrous and the Wicked by Page Morgan — Because I was already about halfway through this book when Bout of Books began, this was a fairly easy goal to complete. I adore The Disposessed trilogy and The Wondrous and the Wicked was a great conclusion!

Read The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis — This book was less than a hundred pages and took only a few hours to read. I loved it.

x Read Illuminae by Amy Kaufman and Jay Kristoff — Much sadness that I was not able to read this book. I tried - I really did - but I needed to pick up something else for an English class, so Illuminae was pushed to the side. Hopefully I can get to it soon!

An unexpected addition to the TBR...

1. The Fall by Bethany Griffin — I had to read this book for school, so it took priority over any other reading material that I had planned to pick up during Bout of Books. I did not manage to finish reading The Fall before the read-a-thon ended, but I was really enjoying it!


Stats:


Overall, I didn't do too poorly considering I had a 13.5 hour day of work on Saturday and a Crap-ton of homework to do on Sunday.

Here is a full list of the challenges that I participated in:

Bookish Would You Rather?
Book Rainbow
Villain Mash-Up
Bookish Scavenger Hunt
The Comfy Reading Spot



Did you guys participate in Bout of Books? How did you do? Let me know, and we can discuss our reads/pine for the next BoB together!

Monday, January 11, 2016

Bout of Books 15 [Progress]

Bout of Books

Instead of doing seven individual updates, I have decided to combine my progress from the week into one, convenient post! Check back for daily updates and visit the Bout of Books blog for more information.



[ Day One ]

Continued reading The Wondrous and the Wicked by Page Morgan

# of hours read on Day One: about 1.25 (total = 1.25)
# of pages read on Day One: 96 (total = 96)
# of books read on Day One: 0 (total = 0)
# of challenges completed on Day One: 0 (total = 0)


[ Day Two ]

Continued reading The Wondrous and the Wicked by Page Morgan
Participated in the "Would You Rather?" challenge

# of hours read on Day Two: 1 (total = 2.25)
# of pages read on Day Two: 41 (total = 137)
# of books read on Day Two: 0 (total = 0)
# of challenges completed on Day Two: 1 (total = 1)

Notes: I planned on finishing The Wondrous and the Wicked today but was distracted by the Teen Wolf marathon on MTV. Fail.


[ Day Three ]

Finished reading The Wondrous and the Wicked by Page Morgan
Began reading The Fall by Bethany Griffin
Participated in the "Rainbow" challenge

# of hours read on Day Three: 2.5 (total = 4.75)
# of pages read on Day Three: 172 (total = 309)
# of books read on Day Three: 1 (total = 1)
# of challenges completed on Day Three: 1 (total = 2)


[ Day Four ]

Continued reading The Fall by Bethany Griffin
Participated in the "Villain Mash Up" challenge

# of hours read on Day Four: 1 (total = 5.75)
# of pages read on Day Four: 77 (total = 386)
# of books read on Day Four: 0 (total = 1)
# of challenges completed on Day Four: 1 (total = 3)


[ Day Five ]

Began and finished reading The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Participated in the "Scavenger Hunt" challenge

# of hours read on Day Five: 1 (total = 6.75)
# of pages read on Day Five: 86 (total = 472)
# of books read on Day Five: 1 (total = 2)
# of challenges completed on Day Five: 1 (total = 4)


[ Day Six ]

Continued reading The Fall by Bethany Griffin
Participated in the "Comfy Reading Spot" challenge

# of hours read on Day Six: about half an hour (total = 7.25)
# of pages read on Day Six: 32 (total = 504)
# of books read on Day Six: 0 (total = 2)
# of challenges completed on Day Six: 1 (total = 5)

Notes: I worked 13.5 hours yesterday, which didn't leave much time for reading. :(


[ Day Seven ]

# of hours read on Day Seven: 0 (total = 7.25)
# of pages read on Day Seven: 0 (total = 504)
# of books read on Day Seven: 0 (total = 2)
# of challenges completed on Day Seven: 0 (total = 5)

Notes: Fail.

Saturday, January 9, 2016

BoB 15: The Comfy Reading Spot

Bout of Books

Today's Bout of Books challenge is "The Comfy Reading Spot," hosted by Once Upon a Chapter! For this, we must post a picture of our favorite/comfiest place to read!



 

This chair is my preferred reading spot! It comes with a blanket for snuggling, a pillow for quick naps, and is near a window - which provides the perfect amount of reading light.....


.....however, most of my reading is done in bed. I usually work during the day, so by the time I get home, all I want to do is cover up with some heavy blankets and read until I am too tired to keep my eyes open.

Friday, January 8, 2016

BoB 15: Scavenger Hunt

Bout of Books

Today's Bout of Books challenge is "Scavenger Hunt," hosted by The Book Monsters!



1. Bookshelves:


A glimpse at two of my main bookshelves.

2. A book you're planning to read/currently reading for Bout of Books:

 

I am currently about halfway through The Fall by Bethany Griffin and am thinking about picking up The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe later tonight.

3. A book and a beverage:


Doctor Pepper and The Fall.

4. Blue books:


5. Cozy reading spot:


My favorite reading spot! Unfortunately, I don't get to use it very often, as most of my reading is done either at work or in bed, just before I go to sleep.

It comes with a blanket for snuggling, a pillow for quick naps, and is near a window - which provides the perfect amount of reading light!

Thursday, January 7, 2016

BoB 15: Villain Mash Up

Bout of Books

Today's Bout of Books challenge is "Villain Mash Up," hosted by Bingeing on Books! For this, we must choose two villains—from two different books—whom we would like to see fight one another.


 
» Voldemort versus Kronos! «


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/136251.Harry_Potter_and_the_Deathly_Hallows?from_search=true&search_version=servicehttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4502507-the-last-olympian?from_search=true&search_version=service



Reason: Voldemort and Kronos are frightening villains. They each have a power that is stronger and darker than anyone else in their respective series, and their inability to feel compassion or love makes them inhuman (literally, in Kronos' case) and dangerous. Though choosing Voldemort as a villain may be a cop-out, I do feel like a battle between these two would be epic and could very well result in an end-of-the-world scenario. Because both feel like they are above friendships and alliances, they would never be able to work together and neither one would want to share power. I would hate to be around if ever there were an argument between the two.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

BoB 15: Rainbow

Bout of Books

Today's Bout of Books challenge is "Rainbows," hosted by Ranty Runt of a Reader! For this, we must make a rainbow—ROYGBIV style—out of books.




1. Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

2. The Kill Order by James Dashner

3. The Beginning of Everything by Robin Schneider

4. The Body Electric by Beth Revis

5. Mockingjay by Susanne Collins

6. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

7. The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

BoB 15: Would You Rather?

Bout of Books

Today's Bout of Books challenge is "Bookish Would You Rather," hosted by Writing My Own Fairytale! For this, we are playing a game of Would You Rather, but with books.



1. Would you rather lend books to someone who dog-ears pages or to someone who reads with cheesy, Cheetos fingers?

I would rather lend books to someone who dog-ears pages. As much as I hate dog-earing, I feel like Cheetos stains would be extremely annoying and difficult to get out.

2. Would you rather be able to meet one character or one author of your choice?

I would love to meet a fictional character! As for which one, there are too many to name! I'd probably go with one of my many book boyfriends, to be honest.

3. Would you rather never be allowed in a book store again, or a library?

A library. I haven't been to one in years, so not being allowed back wouldn't be a huge deal. I would much rather have access to a book store!

4. Would you rather have to choose one of your favorite characters to die or a favorite couple to break up in their book?

As much as my fangirl heart loves a good fictional couple, I think I would probably rather see one of my favorite pairs break up. I would never want to lose a character for good!

5. Would you rather be required to read Twilight or The Scarlet Letter once a year for the rest of your life?

Probably The Scarlet Letter. I've never read either of these two books, but I have absolutely no interest in picking up Twilight.

Sunday, January 3, 2016

Bout of Books 15 TBR

Bout of Books

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 4th and runs through Sunday, January 10th in whatever time zone you are in. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 15 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog.


TBR:


1. The Wondrous and the Wicked by Page Morgan - I started this book in December and an awful, end-of-the-year reading slump kept me from picking it back up. Hopefully I can finish it this week!

2. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis - I cannot remember If I've read this book before, but an unofficial goal of 2016 is to try and finish the entire Chronicles of Narnia. The books aren't very long (it only took me a few hours to read The Magician's Nephew), so it should be easy to get through.

3. Illuminae by Amy Kaufman and Jay Kristoff - I have heard nothing but good things about this book! It looks humongous, but the entire story is told through case-files and everyone says that it is actually a really quick read so, hopefully, I can finish this one as well.



Bout of Books is such a great way to get back into reading after a long and grueling slump. Good luck if you're participating!