Hey guys! So my buddy Jessi totally did this the other day, and I've seen it around some blogs lately and I thought to myself; WHY NOT. It looks like fun and I could switch things up a little. So here I am doing a survey!! And this is hosted by The Perpetual Page Turner. Here goes!

Author You've Read The Most Books From:
Gerald N. Lund. Why? Well he's the writer of many historical fiction books that I LOVED when I was younger and still re-read all the time. So the total coming in? 15 books by him.

Best Sequel Ever:
Deception By C.J.Redwine. It was everything I could've wanted! My Review.

Currently Reading:
Starling by Fiona Paul

Drink of Choice While Reading:
I'll be honest. I don't have a "drink" that is my obsession. I snack WAY more when I read, versus drink. But when I'm snacking I drink lots of water and milk.

E-Reader or Physical Books:
Physical. Always Physical. Though I love the accessibility and ease that comes from a kindle. It's not a problem to read ebooks I'd just rather hold the book.

Fictional Character You Would Have Dated In High School: 
Logan from Defiance...Falco from Venom...Percy from Percy Jackson...Jack from Everneath...Jeb from Splintered... just to name a few.

Glad You Gave This Book A Chance: 
Blood Red Road by Moira Young. I was a little skeptical about what kind of story I was getting into, but in the end I was TOTALLY blown away. This is now one of my favorite books ever!

Hidden Gem Book: 
Anything by Jenny B. Jones or Shannen Crane Camp. These ladies are not as well known but every single book I read by them makes me smile and laugh my head off.

Important Moments of Your Reading Life
Going to my first book signing and getting to meet Brandon Sanderson.

Just Finished:
The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Kinds of Books You Won't Read:
Horror and Erotica.

Longest Book You've Read:
The Count of Monte Cristo coming in at 1,276 pages! And coming in close second we have the complete Lord of the Rings trilogy coming in a 1,168 pages!

Major Book Hangover Because Of:
Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson. The book had me bawling for like 10 minutes after I finished and just ALL THE FEEEELS.

Number of Bookcases You Own:
Two crammed bookshelves, with a couple stuffed cubbies on the side. I'm working to up that number right now.

One Book That You Have Read Multiple Times:
The GOOSE GIRL by Shannon Hale. This book is genius. It's also the only book in which I have a specific favorite quote/scene.

Preferred Place to Read:
My bed. With a pile of blankets and pillows at my back. Or just any comfy place, really.

Quote From A Book That Inspires You/Gives You Feels:
Honestly? I'm so lame when it comes to quotes. I don't mark them very much or remember them for that matter. But I do have one that I love from Lord of the Rings:

Aragorn: “What do you fear my lady?" Eowyn: "A cage. To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them and all chance of valor has gone beyond beyond recall or desire.”

Reading Regret: 
Huh. Nothing really comes to mind. But maybe not having read any Julie Kagawa books yet? I just haven't jumped onto that bandwagon and I really want to.

Series You Started and Need to Finish:
The biggest one is probably the Mortal Instruments. I read City of Bones back in 2011 and I still haven't found the time or push to finish them yet.

Three Of Your All-Time Favorite Books:
Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien, Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen & The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale.

Unapologetic Fangirl For:
Jeb from Splintered. He is so worth it!

Very Excited For This Release More Than Any Other:
So many books deserve my excitement, but at the moment The House of Hades has my allegiance. [Which reminds me I'm also very excited for Allegiant]  I NEED to find out what happened after that tragically heart-wrenching cliff-hanger in Mark of Athena. October 8th, get your booty here fast.

X Marks The Spot (Start On Your Bookshelf And Count to the 27th):
The Archived by Victoria Schwab

Your Latest Book Purchase:
My last book purchase consisted of four books, so a look at my receipt tells me that technically it's Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas.

ZZZ-Snatcher (last book that kept you up WAY late):
Humbug. I don't know. But a REALLY late read? Probably Let The Sky Fall.

The End!

And there you go! Now it's your turn! Are you gonna? Did you do it? If so, link me up! XOXO,

Manor of Secrets
by Katherine Longshore
Publishing: February 2014

Lady Charlotte Edmonds: Beautiful, wealthy and sheltered, Charlotte feels suffocated by the strictures of upper-crust society. She longs to see the world beyond The Manor, to seek out high adventure—and most of all, romance.
Janie Seward: Fiery, hardworking, and clever, Janie knows she can be more than just a kitchen maid. But she isn’t sure she possesses the courage—or the means—to break free and follow her passions.
Both Charlotte and Janie are ready for change. As their paths overlap in the gilded hallways and dark corridors of The Manor, rules are broken and secrets are revealed. Secrets that will alter the course of their lives…forever.

So I'm a historical nut and this book ALREADY sounded amazing. then I realized it was written by Katherine Longshore who writes amazing historical books! Not to mention the synopsis sounds very exciting! Secrets! Manors! Holla! And doesn't the cover look just like a character out of Downton Abbey? Looks pretty awesome!

YO YO YO! So for those who don't remember, I just participated in the three week readathon hosted by Jessi and Reanna. I did it very casually, without setting a schedule or tight goal and it's been a blast to have an awesome reading push. I have been really busy during these weeks but I'm proud of the amount I  read. It officially got me out of the slump I was in! So here's my reading wrap-up:

TOTAL STATISTICS:

Anyway. That's how I did. Did you join in the fun? Are you doing this week's Bout of Books readathon? Do you even like readathones? Talk to me! ALL THE LOVE,

 If you can't tell from the awesome banner above, I'm taking part in the Gated blog tour! I'm so excited you guys! This book is way awesome and I'm so excited to get you excited for it! Here's some jazzy blurb about the book:

Gated 
by Amy Christine Parker
Published: 8. 6. 13
Pages: 352

Do the gates keep the unchosen out or the chosen in?In Mandrodage Meadows, life seems perfect. The members of this isolated suburban community have thrived under Pioneer, the charismatic leader who saved them from their sad, damaged lives. Lyla Hamilton and her parents are original members of the flock. They moved here following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, looking to escape the evil in the world. Now seventeen, Lyla knows certain facts are not to be questioned:
Pioneer is her leader.
Will is her Intended.
The end of the world is near.
Like Noah before him, Pioneer has been told of the imminent destruction of humanity. He says his chosen must arm themselves to fight off the unchosen people, who will surely seek refuge in the compound's underground fortress--the Silo.
Lyla loves her family and friends, but given the choice, she prefers painting to target practice. And lately she'd rather think about a certain boy outside the compound than plan for married life in the Silo with Will. But with the end of days drawing near, she will have to pick up a gun, take a side, and let everyone know where she stands.

This book was fascinating! The premise gives off this aura that made me very curious. I thought this new twist on the apocalypse was awesome-sauce. For on  thing I was very interested in the world building. It's shared in flashbacks and peices and the whole setting was just interesting!









Parkers writing style is easy to get into and connect with. I feel like this was presented well. It didn't rush but it didn't speed either. And I liked that. Lylas character was easy to understand and connect with. She felt REAL. Something about her just clicked with me. Her voice, her beliefs.. She's a very independent character. And I liked her.

I'm not going to gush TOO much because I'll have a more detailed review to come, but let me just say this book is fascinating, original and very well done. You MUST give this book.a chance.

BUY THE BOOK: 

About The Author

That's if for me today! Thanks so much for stopping by! Don't miss the rest of the tour! And go pick up for copy of this fabulous book today! XOXO,

So I'm back for another weekly wrap-up! I'm so pleased with all the good reading I did this week! My blog ain't so sparse anymore. Actually that's due to the fact that I actually sat down and wrote reviews. Lol. I suck at that sometimes. ANYWAY, here's the wrap up and what's new!

New On The Blog

Book Haul

Gifted:
Monument 14 Sky on Fire by Emmy Laybourne [Thanks to Macmillin!] 

Bought: 
The Distance Between Us by Kasie West
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
172 Hours on the Moon by Johan Harstad
Soulless by Gail Carriger

And that's it for me this week! What's in your hauls/mailboxes...etc?! XOXO,

 Deception
by C. J. Rewine
Publishing: 8. 27. 13
Pages: 480

Baalboden has been ravaged. The brutal Commander's whereabouts are unknown. And Rachel, grief stricken over her father's death, needs Logan more than ever. With their ragged group of survivors struggling to forge a future, it's up to Logan to become the leader they need—with Rachel by his side. Under constant threat from rival Carrington's army, who is after the device that controls the Cursed One, the group decides to abandon the ruins of their home and take their chances in the Wasteland.

 But soon their problems intensify tenfold: someone—possibly inside their ranks—is sabotaging the survivors, picking them off one by one. The chaos and uncertainty of each day puts unbearable strain on Rachel and Logan, and it isn't long before they feel their love splintering. Even worse, as it becomes clear that the Commander will stop at nothing to destroy them, the band of survivors begins to question whether the price of freedom may be too great—and whether, hunted by their enemies and the murderous traitor in their midst, they can make it out of the Wasteland alive. 

Deception, how I love thee! Let me count the ways....oh wait too many to count! In all honesty this book was seriously to die for. After loving Defiance to death last year, this book was easily my most anticipated. And boy did Redwine deliver a powerful sequel. My mind is blown. To smithereens. Now floating in the atmosphere...okay you get the picture. Basically my worries about Deception having Second Book Syndrome? Blown to smithereens. Something is seriously wrong with me.

Just as in Defiance, Rachel is seriously kick-all-the-butt. Ha. She's as fierce, loyal and still insanely good with a sword. I loved that her character was still strong, despite all the demons raging within her. Speaking of, oh man. Rachel does go through the wringer emotionally. Just watching the after-affects of Defiance roll in combined with all the ups and downs of Deception? It's tough. It made me feel all the feels for Rachel. But she stayed strong and still kicked all the butt I could have wanted her too. Rachel FTW!
If we're talking character love, I totally cannot forget Logan [aka. my book boyfriend for LIFE]. He's still as ridiculously smart, scientific and swoony as he was in Defiance. Even moreso? He's got his own demons and issues and all the while he's the same voice you know and love! And love some more....
These two characters have the most beautifully broken lives and yet they still work! The romance works! Which brings me to the spot where I happily report that no stupid romance issues pop up! Proof of how un SBS this book is! Rachel and Logan? They just ROCK. And the rest of the cast is phenomenal! They rock so hard. You hate who you're supposed to hate, love who you're supposed to love, pity and sympathize with those who need it and just FEEL with them. It's so vivid. And wonderful.

This book was insanely action-packed. It starts off, starts a chugging and then we are on full speed ahead. Seriously. If yo uthink it's safe? It's not. Don't ever believe your brain. It's intense and the action comes in all shapes and sizes. Which I LOVED. There was variety, but there was never a dull moment! Sure there were downtimes, but there is always something happening to keep you excited and on your toes. And when there's an aura of mystery, she keeps you guessing and re-thinking yourself and the eventually surprising you to the point where you think you were an idiot for not getting it sooner.
Of course with this kind of a book Redwine just has to kill our feels with an ending. An ending so unexpected and insane and yet so full of feels and anticipating and hope that there will be just one more page. An ending that makes you scream and shout with awesomeness. WAAAH. Feels. More feels. And more desperate need for the third book.
So because my brain can't think of anything else to rave about I will wrap this up. I could NOT have asked for a  better sequel. I expected, they were met. And more. And more! C. J. fulfilled the standard of a sequel while keeping it new, fresh and oh so exciting. I am in love with these books and HIGHLY recommend them. Keep your eyes peeled for Deception to hit stores this month and if you still haven't read Defiance? What are you waiting for?
Uh-huh. I'm a little in love with these books. Those are my squeals! Now tell me yours! XOXO,

by Taherah Mafi
Published: 10. 2. 12
Pages: 340

I don't even know where to be begin! After all the hype and the pressure to read this book, I have nothing to say that hasn't been said I really don't know where to begin. This book was good, but it was not perfect. It's not something that will stick with me for ages, but it is fresh and enjoyable, and I did indeed find myself enjoying it.

Let's start with something that becomes obvious from basically the first sentence. The writing style. I adored it. As a writer, seeing and comparing styles is big for me, when done right. And I found that Taherah had beautiful writing. Her style of strikethrough text was fascinating. It seemed to add layers to the story and Juliette that wouldn't be there on first glance. So I found Juliette to have a beautiful voice that was engaging.

But as a character? I'm not sure what to think of her. She's strong and has been dealt a heavy hand in life. And yet, sometimes I didn't know what to make of her. It seemed to me that she was a bundle of feelings that escape through the story. However as good and true as this all was, I wasn't as connected to HER as I was to her voice. Make sense? That's basically how I can describe it so we're gonna leave it there.

Of course like any good dystopian we gotta fall in love with the hot boy. I feel kinda lucky going into this prepared and knowing that Adam has center stage in Shatter Me and Warner is like the thing in Unravel Me. However I still know know what to make of either of them. Since Jessi you're probably dying to know, I liked Warner. I don't appreciate him as a love interest....yet. His character is fascinating. Of course he comes off as the villain. That's what we're supposed to see. But he's a strange villain in a way that makes me curious about the layers under the Warner we see. And dang, his very forward lovey-dovey interest in her. Where did that come from? So I can't say that I'm Team Warner yet.

As for the other side of the triangle, I can't say that I'm Team Adam either. Sorry Eileen. Honestly? I don't care for him that much.He's a boy toy. He comes in. Juliette is already in love with him, so is Adam. So once they get past the issues it's kiss-me-love-me-touch-me and I was just sitting here like okay then. Sure he's got a dark past don't they all but.....he's just Adam.*shrugs*

Kenji though, HA! Notorious sarcastic Kenji. The humorous bone in the book. Gotta love him. I heard all about him and as soon as he came on the scene, I totally jumped on his bandwagon. He's not a love interest, thank goodness, but he's classic, and added a spark of like to the story. Team Kenji all the way.

Now the plot? It's a Dystopian, what do you expect. As far as elements and twists go I felt like it followed the generic pattern of the genre for the most part. Although there are some things set-up that have me interested to see if anything comes of it in the next book.

So Shatter Me. The final analysis? I liked it. It was an enjoyable read. It had an engaging plot and a nice cast. But at the end of the day, some emotions lacked for me. However I'm very curious about this infamous Unravel Me, so I will be getting my hands on that one, at some point. Probably next year when Ignite Me is all the rage. Because reading the books a year behind everyone is totally the things these days you know?

Content: Moderate
[Language including the s word at some points. Kissing, touching, innuendo.]
There you go, all you peeps who were dying to know. What do you think? Agree? Disagree? XOXO,

 Hey guys! Welcome to the blog tour for Charmed Vengeance! I'm gonna spotlight these books a little and then I have an awesome giveaway for you! I was going to have an interview, but I never got it back so if that ever returns to the mothership I'll make sure to share it on a later date!

Anyway, I'm sure you're excited to learn about these books, right? Steampunk and the fae! Charmed Vengeance is actually a sequel so here are the deets for both of these PRETTY ladies!

Innocent Darkness
Published: 8.8. 12
Pages: 408

Sixteen-year-old Noli Braddock's hoyden ways land her in an abusive reform school far from home. On mid-summer's eve she wishes to be anyplace but that dreadful school. A mysterious man from the Realm of Faerie rescues her and brings her to the Otherworld, only to reveal that she must be sacrificed, otherwise, the entire Otherworld civilization will perish.

In the Faerie realm, Noli Braddock's relationship with her best friend V has grown into something more. But V's mother, Faerie Queen Tiana, has ruled that they are forbidden to see each other. Returning to the mortal realm, Noli joins the crew of her brother's air-pirate ship, the Vixen's Revenge. There she discovers that her brother has hired the scallywag Faerie huntsman, Kevighn Silver. While serving as shipmates, Kevighn and Noli learn that the Earth Court King plans to find a forbidden artifact--one that will bring destruction to everyone Noli loves.

Suzanne Lazear

Website - Twitter - Facebook



Now all this is pretty and good right? But since I'm lacking in other content I thought I'd share one of the videos that Suzanne has made, talking about Steampunk! Don't even know what it is? Look no further! Suzanne will tell you all about it.

Of course it's now giveaway time! Don't miss out on your chance to win these fun prizes! And don't forget to pick up a copy of the book if you like the look, and feel of the book!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
That's it for today! Thanks for visiting!

Pawn
by Aimee Carter
Publishing: 11. 26. 13

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country. 
If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter. 
There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed …and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.

This book sounds phenomenal! From the catching premise I've gotten super excited about this one. This sounds like and Uglies meets The Selection! How cool is that? Not to mention the cover is pretty awesome itself! I'm super excited to read this one!