Wednesday, July 23, 2014

"Waiting on" Wednesday: Since You've Been Gone

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme brought to you by Jill from BreakingTheSpine and provides a space for bloggers to share books they are most anticipating the release of! Check it out on the host's blog to see many more posts!


Here is my pick:

Title: Since You've Been Gone

Author: Anouska Knight

Release Day: July 29th, 2014

Summary: (goodreads) "How do you learn to love again?

In one tragic moment, Holly Jefferson s life as she knows it changes for ever. Now to the external world, at least she s finally getting back on her feet, running her business, Cake. Then she meets Ciaran Argyll.

His rich and charmed life feels a million miles from her own. However, there s more to Ciaran than the superficial world that surrounds him, and he too is wrestling with his own ghosts. Will Holly find the missing ingredient that allows her to live again and embrace an unknown and unexpected tomorrow?"

My Thoughts: The cute cover drew me in and once I read the summary, I knew I needed to get it! It looks like a sweet, romantic, AND realistic novel. I have been looking for one in which the characters are a bit older, but not necessarily NA...because NA has been disappointing thus far. This fits the bill! So excited to read it!

Friday, May 16, 2014

Friday Book Blogger Hop

Hello! The Friday book blogger hop is a meme originally from Jennifer's Crazy for Books blog and now hosted by Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer. Each week brings us a new question posed by a fellow blogger, so make sure to check out some of the other responses!

Book Blogger Hop

Prompt asked by RAnn: How do you decide what blogs to follow?

Answer: I really only follow blogs that have content I am really interested in. I tend to be pretty liberal with who I follow in the book blogging sphere if they review Young or New Adult fiction. If those kinds of blogs follow me, I usually try to follow back. It is a little confusing to me now what with the GFC going/not going away, so I have slowly started to get used to using BlogLovin'.

Leave a link to your post below and I will be sure to read it! Thanks for visiting!

Friday, May 9, 2014

Friday Blogger Hop

Originally by Jennifer at Crazy for Books and now hosted by Billy at Ramblings of A Coffee Addicted Writer, this weekly meme gets us writing! Each week we answer a question posed by a fellow blogger and then post up our responses. Link to your response too!

Book Blogger Hop

May 9th Prompt asked by Elizabeth: When you enter a contest or request a book, how do you keep track of what the books are? Or perhaps you don't keep track and just remember what you entered or requested?

Answer: I had not considered organizing my giveaway entries or requests. For me, I request so little books since I am not a daily blogger. I have so little time for reading books, that I attempt not to take on too many. As for contests, I figure that if I enter and they ask for my e-mail address then they will make sure to notify me :) But I do enter many, so this prompt has me thinking about possibly creating a spreadsheet with giveaway URL and end date, so I remember to go check once the giveaway winner is announced.

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Author Interview + Giveaway: The Cinderella Theorem

Today I bring you and interview with Kristee Ravan author of The Cinderella Theorem. Enjoy and don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end!
---------

 How did you get into writing?        
One of my grandmothers was an English teacher and after my fifth birthday, she made a book with me about my party.  I told her what to write, she scribed it, and I “illustrated” it with my crayons.  It was pretty awesome to my five-year-old self.  After that, I wrote all the time.  I had notebooks, I played out stories in my dollhouse, and in high school, I started a novel that is pretty bad until you get to the parts of it that I finished in college. Also, I read a lot as a kid.  I think reading leads to writing a lot of the time.

What other jobs have you had as you made your way to becoming a writer?

I also really liked school and I enjoyed playing school, so I got a teaching degree in college.  In my mind, I was a writer, so I didn’t bother to pursue an English major or take creative writing classes.  I just assumed I would write in my spare time like I’d always done.  After college, I spent two years teaching overseas (1 year in the jungle) in Bolivia.  When I came home, I had already started The Cinderella Theorem and was ready to be more proactive with writing.  I took part-time work such as substitute teaching, giving piano lessons, and being a part-time social worker, so that I would have time to write.  Currently, I homeschool my nine-year-old daughter, run our home, and write, write, write.


Where did the idea to combine math and magic come from?

On my recommendation, my sister stayed up all night reading Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine.  (I recommended that she read it, not that she stay up all night.)  The next morning, at breakfast she said, “You should write a book like that.  Something with Cinderella.”  My sister loves Cinderella. So the idea of a Cinderella book was turning around in my head. A few weeks after that, my college roommate confused two really well known fairy tales in a casual conversation.  My roommate also happened to be a math major. Then the story stared clicking. What if someone who was clueless about fairy tales and loved order and logic found herself the future ruler of a magical (illogical) fairy tale kingdom?

Who or what inspired Lily's character?

That college roommate was a big influence on Lily’s character.  In fact, when Lily tells her guidance counselor in the first chapter that she wants “to do pure mathematics research at a major university or be a code-breaker for the National Security Agency,” that is exactly what my roommate would say she wanted to do with her math degree. 

What are some of your own favorite books/writers?

I like a lot of books, but I love all of the Anne of Green Gables series by L. M. Montgomery.  Every time I read an Anne book, I feel sad that Anne is fictional and I can never be her friend in real life. I also love Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody books.  I laugh out loud every time and almost never correctly guess who the villain is.  Also anything by Carolyn Meyer is a big hit with me.  I usually clear an entire day in my calendar for one of her books, so I can read it all up at once.  (If I don’t clear the day, I still read it all at once and then I’m just behind on everything.) Patience, Princess Catherine is my favorite.  Other favorites are the Harry Potter books, the Artemis Fowl books, Dead End in NorveltThe Hobbit, and Watersmeet.

Something readers should particularly know about your novel?

There are footnotes in it.  The story stands alone without the footnotes.  They just add extra color, information or explanations to the story.  Sort of like pop-ups on a music video.
Also, you do not have to be good at math to enjoy the book.  Anything that isn’t commonly known, Lily explains in the footnotes.  Nor do you have to know a lot about fairy tales.  Lily knows practically nothing about them and chances are, you know more than her.

What are you working on now?

The sequel to The Cinderella Theorem, called Calculating Christmas.  Lily and company have another adventure and must save Christmas.  Also there is origami, a Halloween dance, and of course, math and fairy tales.

Favorite math course?

Interestingly, while I do like math, I don’t LOVE it as much as Lily does.  I research  a lot while writing her math bits.  I remember feeling lost in Algebra 1 and Geometry.  My Algebra 2 teacher helped me to understand things better (Thanks, Mr. Herring!), and the next year I loved Pre-Calculus and almost took Calculus for fun in college (okay, that does sound a little bit like Lily), but I couldn’t justify the VERY expensive textbook for an elective course.

Thank you Ms. Hernandez, for your time and interest!

Thank you very much for such a lovely interview! Ella Enchanted is still one of my most reread favorite books ever! Calculus was kind of fun though I wouldn't have taken it if not required for my major, but Statistics is where it's at!

**The Kindle version of The Cinderella Theorem will be available for FREE on Amazon.com May 1st-3rd.  Check it out for yourself!

Check out The Cinderella Theorem on Goodreads
Facebook Page Here






GIVEAWAY TIME: One lucky reader will get their own copy  Enter the deets in the form below and I will announce the winner on the 24th of May. US and Canada!

Good luck and Happy Reading!



"Waiting on" Wednesday: Guy in Real Life

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme used to highlight the books we are most looking forward to getting our hands on. It is hosted by Jill over at BreakingTheSpine, so make sure you check out the Linky to read more fun posts and expand your tbr pile!

Title: Guy in Real Life

Author: Steve Brezenoff

Release Date: May 27th, 2014

Summary: (GoodreadsAn achingly real and profoundly moving love story about two Minnesota teens whose lives become intertwined through school, role-playing games, and a chance two-a.m. bike accident.

It is Labor Day weekend in St. Paul, Minnesota, and boy and girl collide on a dark street at two thirty in the morning: Lesh, who wears black, listens to metal, and plays MMOs; and Svetlana, who embroiders her skirts, listens to Björk and Berlioz, and dungeon masters her own RPG. They should pick themselves up, continue on their way, and never talk to each other again. 

But they don’t.

This is a story of two people who do not belong in each other’s lives, who find each other at a time when they desperately need someone who doesn’t belong in their lives. A story of those moments when we act like people we aren’t in order to figure out who we are. A story of the roles we all play—at school, at home, with our friends, and without our friends—and the one person who might show us what lies underneath it all.

My Thoughts: I can't think of any book that I have read that sounded similar to this. I particularly have a couple kids in minds who might find this particularly interesting due to the gaming angle. I'm also a sucker for chance encounter love stories. Can't wait to read this one!

What are you waiting on this week?

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Friday Book Blogger Hop

Hello all! The Friday Book Blogger hop is a weekly meme started at Jennifer's Crazy for Books blog and now hosted by Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer. Each week, we answer questions that have been submitted by different bloggers.
Book Blogger Hop
The question this week was asked by Elizabeth from Silver's Reviews:

4/25 Prompt: Do you answer the Book Blogger Hop questions in advance and have them scheduled or do you write your post the night before or the day of the Book Blogger Hop?

I tend to write my answers the day of the Book Blogger Hop. I like having a list of questions that will be asked beforehand, but I tend to participate when I remember to. I might try scheduling for next week and maybe that will make me a more frequent participant. My reviews are a little different. 

As soon as I start a book I intend to review, I draft up a post with all the pertinent information like author, summary, goodreads link and cover photo. I find that sometimes formatting takes me more time than writing my actual thoughts on the book down. I then leave room to add in my review once I am done. I usually post the same day I review a book.

Thanks for stopping by and click on the links above to view other answers!

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Split

Author: Swati Avasthi

Summary: (goodreadsSixteen-Year-Old Jace Witherspoon arrives at the doorstep of his estranged brother Christian with a re-landscaped face (courtesy of his father’s fist), $3.84, and a secret.


He tries to move on, going for new friends, a new school, and a new job, but all his changes can’t make him forget what he left behind—his mother, who is still trapped with his dad, and his ex-girlfriend, who is keeping his secret.


At least so far.


Worst of all, Jace realizes that if he really wants to move forward, he may first have to do what scares him most: He may have to go back. Award-winning novelist Swati Avasthi has created a riveting and remarkably nuanced portrait of what happens after. After you’ve said enough, after you’ve run, after you’ve made the split—how do you begin to live again? Readers won’t be able to put this intense page-turner down.



Review:  Appropriately titled, Split contains a powerful and heart-breaking narrative about what it is like to pick up the pieces after everything has been broken. Jace struggles with his identity and his mind. His brother seems to have completely pushed away memories of life with their father, but Jace dredges up old demons. Together, they manage to find the ways in which each of them can heal.


Jace is written with a lot of dimension. There are things very deep inside that he refuses to admit to himself, and as readers we slowly learn about his insecurities despite his cocky outside demeanor. The other characters were not as developed, but I think this is book rightly focused on Jace's past because that was what he thinks about and worries about. 

A steady pace of action, morose internal character dialogue as well as sometimes witty banter, make Split a solid story with a solid message. 
Rating: 1  2 3 4 5

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

"Waiting on" Wednesday: The Art of Lainey

WoW is a weekly meme showcasing books we can't wait to get our hands on. It is hosted by Jill over at BreakingTheSpine so check out all the other posts and be prepared to add lots of new books to your tbr!


Author: Paula Stokes

Release Day: May 20th, 2014

Summary: (goodreadsSoccer star Lainey Mitchell is used to getting what she wants, and when her boyfriend Jason breaks up with her for no reason, what she wants is to win him back before the start of their senior year. Lainey and her friend Bianca check the interwebz for tips and tricks, but the online dating advice is all pretty lame. 

Then the girls stumble across a copy of The Art of War. Didn't someone once say that love is a battlefield? Jason isn't going to stand a chance once Lainey and Bee go all Zhou Dynasty on him... 

Old school strategy and subterfuge meet modern-day dramarama in the story of a girl who sets out to win at all costs and ends up discovering what's really worth fighting for.

My Thoughts: The synopsis sounds a bit cheesy, but I haven't read a light-hearted book in a while. It sounds like it will have some really interesting situations, a good dose of humor and a cool MC. Sounds just like the kind of book I need right now!

What are you most looking forward to this week?

Friday, March 21, 2014

Friday Book Blogger Hop

Book Blogger Hop
The Book Blogger Hop was originally a part of Jennifer's Crazy for Books Blog and is now hosted by Billy at Ramblings of A Coffee Addicted Writer.

Each week, participants answer a question from those submitted. Here is this week's prompt:

3/21/14 Prompt: What is your favorite weekly meme? Asked by Kisha.

I don't really participate in memes all that often. In my earlier blog days, I enjoyed going through the Mailbox Monday posts, Teaser Tuesdays, and Waiting on Wednesdays. The meme I have stuck the longest to (on and off) has been Waiting on Wednesday, because I absolutely love adding new books to my tbr pile. Even when I haven't had time to blog, the WoW posts have allowed me to stay somewhat connected to the blogosphere and in the loop on upcoming releases making waves throughout.

Friday, March 14, 2014

Friday Book Blogger Hop

Book Blogger Hop

The Book Blogger Hop is now hosted by Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer after it originally ended over at Jennifer's Crazy for Books blog. 

Each week, a question is picked from those submitted to be asked. You answer on Fridays and spend a week looking through other responses! In an effort to keep writing, I hope to become a regular participate of this meme.

3/14/14 (PIE DAY) Prompt: What is the most creative thing you have ever done with a book? Asked by Veronica.

Although they were not my books, just two weeks ago in lab, my lab partner and I were doing an experiment which required a beaker to be clamped onto a stand about a foot in the air.

In order to stabilize our set-up, she pulled out a copy of Lemony Snicket's The Bad Beginning, a book on theater, and her kindle stacking them up to create a makeshift stand for our chemical-filled beaker. It had been quite a while since I had seen non-textbooks, so I think I might have shed a tear or two at the sight.

I was also extremely worried we would spill something on them but the books were safe and our experiment went well. We couldn't have done it without you darling books!

Is it Spring Break Yet?

Hello!

This blog has not been updated in several months. Mostly because I haven't read anything for the last two terms. But Spring Break is coming up! I will be busy eating, sleeping, and reading novels for FUN. Things which I have not done as much (or at all as is the case with reading) as I would have liked to.

Couple of things:

-If you want to find out about some new books I am interested in reading and hopefully you will be too, request me on Goodreads or follow me on Twitter (links in sidebar) since I regularly add books to the to-read list. My free time consists of napping and ogling all the books I wish I had time to read. I also read a lot of the excerpts on Amazon and such since that is all I really have time for.

-One thing that has stood out to me about being away from my blog, is that I don't write much anymore. Writing is a skill that needs to be practiced everyday. Blogging is a great way to improve. I think that my writing quality has diminished since I am not doing it as frequently. I find it MUCH harder to write reviews or critique work now. My point? Write and read as much as you can. Even if you aren't showing your writing to anyone, you develop a sense of intuition on what looks and sounds right. Reading also helps you develop your writing skills.You need the skill to get into university or grad school, to get scholarships for school, to express your concerns on legislation or other public matters in text, to write an e-mail asking for a letter of recommendation, to BS your way through your science paper on blood pressure...all while sounding like a coherent, confident and credible person that deserves to be listened to. Yup.

It is 3am. Near the end of Dead week. Forgive me if I sound anything but coherent!

-First book I will be reading and reviewing (sometime in the next two weeks) is INK by Amanda Sun. My first impression based off the first three pages is that the main character sounds sassy. I think I will like it!

-I will likely be writing all of the Waiting on Wednesday posts I have missed out on purely because I can go through my to-read list and pick out the top books I really want to buy and/or nag people to buy for me, and also because of cover lust. Covers!

That is all. The end. I struggle with conclusions. Smh.