Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Bookish Bingo: Summer 2016 Wrap Up

Bookish Bingo is hosted by Bekka at Pretty Deadly Reviews.

Sadly, I did not get a bingo for this session of Bookish Bingo. I got close, but I had trouble figuring out books that fit the remaining boxes.

Check out my board: 


I'm hoping that things go better the next time. Wish me luck! 

Have you participated in Bookish Bingo in the past, and do you plan on trying it anytime soon? 

Waiting on Wednesday #40: "A Shadow Bright and Burning" by Jessica Cluess

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

A Shadow Bright and Burning (Kingdom on Fire, #1) 


Title: "A Shadow Bright and Burning"
Author: Jessica Cluess
Expected Publication: September 20, 2016


I am Henrietta Howel.
The first female sorcerer in hundreds of years.
The prophesied one.
Or am I?


Henrietta Howel can burst into flames.
Forced to reveal her power to save a friend, she's shocked when instead of being executed, she's invited to train as one of Her Majesty's royal sorcerers.

Thrust into the glamour of Victorian London, Henrietta is declared the chosen one, the girl who will defeat the Ancients, bloodthirsty demons terrorizing humanity. She also meets her fellow sorcerer trainees, handsome young men eager to test her power and her heart. One will challenge her. One will fight for her. One will betray her.

But Henrietta Howel is not the chosen one.
As she plays a dangerous game of deception, she discovers that the sorcerers have their own secrets to protect. With battle looming, what does it mean to not be the one? And how much will she risk to save the city—and the one she loves? I've been anticipating this book for almost the past year. The moment I read the synopsis, I knew I had to have it. It's like Victorian X-Men! I love when authors incorporate paranormal elements into historical settings! It's a totally different way to look at that era.
 
Preorder
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble
 
What are you waiting on?

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday #66: Ten Books That Should Be Read In Creative Writing Classes

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
 
This Week's Topic:
Ten Books That Should Be Read In Creative Writing Classes
 
When I took a Creative Writing class in high school, we would spend one day each week just reading, so here are a few books that I think students should read!
 
1.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, #1)
 
2.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia, #1)
 
3.
Wither (The Chemical Garden, #1)
 
4.
Something Strange and Deadly (Something Strange and Deadly, #1)
 
5.
Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1)
 
6.
The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #1)
 
7.
Shatter Me (Shatter Me, #1)
 
8.
A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #1)
 
9.
Shadow and Bone (The Grisha, #1)
 
10.
Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1)
 
If I were to teach Creative Writing, I'd want my students to read a wide variety of works. From Middle Grade to New Adult, and Fantasy to Historical Fiction, I'd want them to experience different genres to find out which one they like the most. DoSaB was actually recommended to me by my CW teacher, and I recommended The Chemical Garden Trilogy to her after she saw the chapter page design.
 
What would you have your Creative Writing students read?

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Waiting on Wednesday #39: "Crooked Kingdom" by Leigh Bardugo

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows, #2) 


Title: "Crooked Kingdom"
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Expected Publication: September 27, 2016
 
Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and left crippled by the kidnapping of a valuable team member, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of magic in the Grisha world.

After the ending of Six of Crows, I've been incredibly desperate for this book. Is Inej ok? What will happen to Nina? Can Wylan be fixed? And can Kaz finally open himself up? I need to know! *flings self onto bed*
Preorder
What are you waiting on?

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday #65: Ten Books That Have Been On My TBR From Before I Started Blogging That I STILL Haven't Read Yet

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
 
This Week's Topic:
Ten Books That Have Been On My TBR From Before I Started Blogging That I STILL Haven't Read Yet
 
It's hard to remember all of the books I've been meaning to read, but fortunately on Goodreads it lists the date when you added a book to your TBR.
 
1.
The Notebook (The Notebook, #1)
I added this book to my TBR before I saw the movie. Now that I've seen the movie, I don't want to read it.
 
2.
Anna and the French Kiss (Anna and the French Kiss, #1)
Yep, still haven't read it.
 
3.
Confessions of a Shopaholic (Shopaholic, #1)
I saw the movie and thought it was super cute so I added it to my TBR. That was four years ago.
 
4.
Bridget Jones's Diary (Bridget Jones, #1)
Another book I added after seeing the movie.
 
5.
My Sister's Keeper
Added this before seeing the movie. I don't want to read it now.
 
6.
Pride and Prejudice
I haven't read many classics, so I'd like to fix that... eventually.
 
7.
The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Everyone's read it except for me. But I finally checked it out from my library and hope to start it this week!
 
8.
A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle, #1)
I promise to read you soon!
 
9.
Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush, #1)
After adding this to my TBR, I saw quite a few negative reviews of this book. While I am wary, I still want to read it and see if it's as bad as people seem to think it is.
 
10.
Dark Visions (Dark Visions, #1-3)
After reading and loving the Night World series (except for Strange Fate because WHEN IS THAT BOOK COMING OUT), I decided I wanted to read the rest of LJ Smith's work. Still haven't gotten to Dark Visions, Vampire Diaries, The Secret Circle, and The Forbidden Game.
 
As you can see, I have plenty of books that have been sitting on my TBR for longer than I'd like to admit. But I will get to them! I just may take a while...
 

Monday, August 22, 2016

Bout of Books 17: 8/22-8/28

 Bout of Books 17
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, August 22nd and runs through Sunday, August 28th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 17 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team 

1. Post on your site, Twitter, Google+, Goodreads, YouTube, Instagram or Facebook account and declare your intentions to join us. It's EASY. We ask you share info to help spread the word. Please link back to us so others can find us here.

2. Add the direct link to your sign up post to the linky in this post. You have until Tuesday, August 23rd at 11:59pm CST to sign up. (If the linky is closed, you're too late.)
 
3. On August 22nd, READ!

Goals:
~Finish 3 books
~Participate in 1 Twitter char
~Complete 3 challenges 

Daily Progress
8/22
~Currently Reading: Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins (finished), Torn by Jennifer L. Armentrout (started)
~Number of Pages Read Today: 180
~Total Pages Read: 180
~Total Books Finished: 1
~Challenge:
 
8/23
~Currently Reading: Torn by Jennifer L. Armentrout
~Number of Pages Read Today: 193
~Total Pages Read: 373
~Total Books Finished: 1
~Challenge: 
 
8/24
~Currently Reading:
~Number of Pages Read Today:
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~Challenge:
 
8/25
~Currently Reading:
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8/26
~Currently Reading:
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8/27
~Currently Reading:
~Number of Pages Read Today:
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8/28
~Currently Reading:
~Number of Pages Read Today:
~Total Pages Read:
~Total Books Finished:
~Challenge: 

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday #64: Ten Books With Amazing Fantasy Settings

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
 
This Week's Topic:
Ten Things Books Have Made Me Want To Do or Learn About After Reading Them
 
Since the majority of the books I read are fantasy, I decided to list the ten books with my favorite fantasy settings.
 
1.
A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #1) 

2.
Shadow and Bone (The Grisha, #1)

3.
The Winner's Curse (The Winner's Trilogy, #1)

4.
Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1)

5.
Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1)

6.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia, #1)
 
7.
Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1)
 
8.
Truthwitch (The Witchlands, #1)

9.
The Orphan Queen (The Orphan Queen, #1)

10.
A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic, #1)

I love how unique each one of these fantasy worlds are. It's amazing to see what each author creates. And I also really like how not each fantasy world includes magic or strange creatures. What are your favorite fantasy worlds?

Monday, August 15, 2016

UNKNOWN Release Day Blitz





Amber Tate believes the worst thing she’ll suffer in life is dealing with the unrequited love she feels for her brother’s best friend, Rylen Fite. She also believes war is something unfortunate that happens places far, far away from her rural Nevada town. She’s wrong on both counts.

When an unknown organization meticulously bombs major cities in the United States and across the globe, a trickle-down effect spreads to remaining towns at an alarming speed—everything from food and water sources to technology and communications are compromised. Without leadership, the nation is split between paralysis and panic, but Amber isn’t one to hide or watch helplessly. She’s determined to put her nursing skills to use, despite the danger, even if it means working alongside the man she can never have.

In this first installment of NY Times bestselling author, Wendy Higgins’s debut New Adult series, a frighteningly realistic apocalyptic America is brought to life, entwined with searing romantic tension that will leave you eager for more.
 
Giveaway:
Open International
Grand Prize: Signed Paperback copy of Unknown with Poster, bookplate stickers, and bookmarks
1st & 2nd Prize: digital copies of Unknown (has to be B&N or Amazon user - will be gifted via their email address) plus signed bookmarks and bookplate stickers

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
About Wendy Higgins:
Wendy Higgins is the USA Today and NY Times bestselling author of the SWEET EVIL series from HarperTeen, the high fantasy duology THE GREAT HUNT, and her independently published Irish Fantasy SEE ME.
After earning a Creative Writing degree from George Mason University and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Radford, Wendy taught high school English until achieving her dream job as a full-time writer.
Wendy lives on the Eastern Shore of Virginia with her husband, daughter, son, and little doggie Rue.