SBPT 2016: Confessions of Carlisa

As July comes to a close, the Summer Blogger Promo Tour keeps rolling on...

Today my guest is Carlisa from Confessions of Carlisa and she is sharing six books that describe her and her blog!  Let's give a big welcome to Carlisa!

Hi, my lovely friends! I’m Carlisa from Confessions of Carlisa. I blog about all things books and movies and random thoughts that I have—so it’s a pretty good time. Today I’m going to be talking about six books that describe both me and my blog. I had some fun, so I hope you like them!

1. Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell

I love finding new bookish people to get to know! My favorite thing is when someone says they love one of your favorite series and you just want to hug them and be best friends forever.

2. The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

I just read this one, and I think it works perfectly in this situation. I’m always reading about awesome and fantastical adventures, but my life is never super exciting. Just school and work, work and school. I mean, I like my life and where I’m at. It’s just nowhere near as crazy as the books I read.

3. The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

When I read this book, I felt like Paige, the main character, was basically the exact same person I am. I even made a list of our similarities in my review here. I loved her, and this book. But mostly her. 

4. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophia Kinsella

Picked this just because its title and my blog name are twinsies.

5. The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

So this story has nothing to do with me or my blog as its WWII-related, but I really love the title. Though I don’t write as much as I should or want to, I really just love words and stories. And my blog is kind of an outlet that lets me “tell” the stories by promoting and talking about and getting more people to read them.

6. Vanessa and Her Sister by Priya Parmar

I haven’t read this, but I saw it in the store once, and I almost bought it on a whim. Because my sister’s name is Vanessa…so this book is about us, no?

Thanks so much, Jennifer, for having me! Check out my blog here, my bookstagram here, and my Twitter here! 

Thank you so much, Carlisa! I loved learning more about you and your blog through your list!

Everyone be sure to show Carlisa some love and check out her blog, Confessions of Carlisa!

Blogger Summer Reading Program Final Week!

This week was the last week of the Blogger Summer Reading Program and despite an horrible migraine and an unexpected trip out of town, I managed to meet my goal for this week!!!

I read and really enjoyed

That means I finished all of the books I listed as my "summer" reading goals!

Look for reviews of all of my Summer Reading Programs throughout the next couple of weeks!

All Shook Up First Look Celebration!!!!

Today we're celebrating the First Look at All Shook Up by Chelsey Krause!

Friends become lovers over a whirlwind summer of rockabilly rhythms, twirling skirts, and a mystery that takes them hilariously far out of their element in this humorous and heartwarming romantic comedy!

To help celebrate, there's an All Shook Up First Look Celebration Giveaway! 

Tryst Books is offering one (1) lucky grand prize winner a paperback set containing the following titles: All Shook Up, Sweet Bliss, Drawn Through You, Ms. Conception, & Lessons in Pure Life and ten (10) runner-ups will win an eBook copy of their choice from the Tryst Books publishing catalogue! To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below:

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About All Shook Up:

Title: All Shook Up

Author: Chelsey Krause

Publisher: Tryst Books

Release Date: August 17, 2016

Genre: Contemporary Romance

ISBN: 9781988387048

Natalie’s world is shaken to its core when she discovers an old photo of a woman who looks like her. Could this woman be related to her birth mother, who put Natalie up for adoption as a baby? When she tracks down the person who dumped the photo album at her thrift shop, she’s shaken again. Especially when the gorgeous fire-fighting guitarist offers to help her find the owner. They quickly become friends – which is all they’ll be, as far as Natalie’s concerned. Her rebellious youth turned her off cheating men, and the new Natalie is looking for true love and a family of her own – something Casey isn’t willing to provide. But how long can Natalie ignore her undeniable attraction to the man with the Irish accent and the broken-down ’57 Chevy?

In Chelsey Krause’s second novel, friends become lovers over a whirlwind summer of rockabilly rhythms, twirling skirts, and a mystery that takes them hilariously far out of their element.

Add to your TBR list:  Goodreads

Pre-Order Links:  Amazon  |  Barnes and Noble  |  Kobo  |  iTunes  |  Google Play

***

Excerpt:

I stare up at the house for a moment, my hands shaking on the steering wheel, wondering what I’ve got myself into. I do some breathing exercises to calm down, pick up the box, and get out of the car. I can barely stand, my legs are so wobbly.

Maybe I’m working myself up over nothing. So what if the woman in the picture looks like me? It could be a coincidence.

Or maybe, just maybe…

I walk slowly up the driveway and knock on the door, my heart racing. After a couple of minutes, I knock again. Maybe they aren’t home? Maybe they didn’t hear me? I try the doorbell.

After a minute, I hear heavy, muffled footsteps.

Oh god. I should have worn a better outfit. I quickly smooth my hair with my free hand and stand a bit taller. Am I going to meet my birth mother? Or, at the very least, an aunt or something? Or my grandmother? Although, if someone cared enough to take these pictures and put them in an album, why would they throw them away? Is that the sort of person I want to meet? 

The door swings open. The person standing in front of me is most definitely not a granny.

“Can I help you?” he asks as he rubs his eyes.

“Oh, I, umm…”

My brain has stalled.

He shouldn’t be the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen. But for some reason, he is. He looks like he’s in his late twenties, maybe early thirties. He isn’t wearing anything that spectacular, just a plain T-shirt and fleece pants. And his dark eyebrows are a bit thick for my liking.

But those lips…thin on top, full on the bottom, framed by a cleft chin and dark stubble. And those brown eyes fringed with black lashes…

He blinks. “Okay, then. Well, if that’s all…” He starts to close the door.

“Does this belong to you?” I yelp. I shove the box into his chest. He takes a half step back and sneezes as the dust flies up around him.

He frowns. “Is this the crap I took to the thrift store?” With a confused look on his face, he hands the box back to me and crosses his arms. He leans on the door frame, making his biceps strain against his T-shirt. His entire left arm is covered in swirling blue and green tattoos. “How did you find where I live?” he asks cautiously. He has a hint of an accent. Scottish, maybe?

I roll my eyes. “Don’t flatter yourself, I’m not stalking you.”

He smirks. “Good. I’ve already got too many stalkers.”

*** 

About Chelsey Krause:

Chelsey Krause has a thing for thrift stores and used bookshops. A nurse, wife, Starbucks addict, and mom to two children, she can often be found repurposing other people’s junk or considering whether the library would let her move in. The rest of the time, she’s reviewing for Chicklit Club or writing. All Shook Up is her second novel.

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Goodreads  |  Amazon

For blog tours and more check out...

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Defying Gravity by Kendra C. Highley

I am thrilled to be a part of the Defying Gravity Blog Tour!

If you're a fan of contemporary YA romance novels in general and either the best friends to lovers  (me, me me!!!!) or the brothers fighting over the same girl tropes, then you'll love Defying Gravity by Kendra C. Highley! And of course, if you've already read Finding Perfect, the first book in the Finding Perfect series, then you'll definitely not want to miss this one. Even though Zoey's story can be read as a standalone without any problem, you'll already know her, her BFF Paige, and Paige's boyfriend, Ben, if you read and loved Finding Perfect, which will make this book even more enjoyable! Please return to this site each day to celebrate the release of this book and follow along with the blog tour from July 25-Aug. 5, 2016:

You can find the full schedule here.

Does Defying Gravity sound like your kind of book? Find out more now:

Synopsis:

Two brothers. One girl. May the best man win.

Disclaimer: This book contains enough sexual tension to melt snow, the hottest near-kiss in the history of near-kisses, and a sexy snowboarder determined to win the heart of the girl he loves.

Zoey Miller lives for her holidays in Aspen. Her time up on the mountain with the Madison brothers, Parker and Luke, is everything. But for the first time, it’s not enough. This time, she’s determined to win one of the brothers’ hearts. 

But the brother she has in mind is a renowned player, with hordes of snow-bunnies following him around Snowmass resort. And the other…well, he’s her best friend and knows she deserves better. Namely him. And he’s going to win her heart.

Doesn't that sound great???

Want to know more...here's an excerpt...

The crowd at the entrance started doing strange things. For one, it parted like the sea before Moses. For another, guys stopped dead in their tracks…and those who didn’t stop ran into walls or tripped over their own feet. The women and girls around these guys started rolling their eyes, some good-natured, some not so much.

Parker’s heart hammered like a drunk carpenter had taken over his pulse.

Zoey was on the mountain.

She breezed through the crowd in a lime-green ski suit, her snowboard resting against her shoulder. Blond hair streamed out behind her under the hot pink knit cap she’d been wearing since they were kids, and her cheeks were flushed with the cold. Her smile could stop traffic…no, really, it had stopped traffic. The sudden loss of coordination among the men near the entrance was proof.

He could only imagine what her real smile—the one she only gave him—could do.

Wait. No. He didn’t want her smiling at any other guys that way.

She searched the crowd, oblivious as always to the way people stared, and Parker waved. Laughing, she barreled straight at him, tossing her snowboard to the side, before knocking him into a snow drift. They landed in a clatter of boots, boards, and limbs, with her on top.

Her grin lit up the world. “Parker Madison! How the hell are you?”

His entire body went supernova hot. He could feel every inch of her, despite the layers of ski clothes separating them.  Jesus. He choked back a groan and tried to think of anything other than how perfectly they fit together. If she felt how his body responded to her…

No, not happening.

He sighed heavily and brushed melting snow from her cheek. “How am I? Well, Miller, I’m bored.” Lie. So much lying. Whole mountains of lie.

“Bored?” She blinked at him. “I’m not that late.”

He pretended to scowl at her, enjoying the close-up look at her baby-blues. Huh, was she wearing mascara?

Since when did she wear makeup on the mountain? Not that he was complaining—she looked amazing. “Zoey, two ages of the universe passed by while I’ve been waiting for you. Maybe even three.”

“Is that so?” She smiled again and tugged on his cap. “I missed you.”

There’s the smile he’d been waiting for. His mouth went dry and he had to swallow a few times before he could speak. Maybe he should just kiss her instead. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

***

Want to Read More? Pre-order Defying Gravity (Finding Perfect, #2) Today!

Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca |Entangled Publishing

You could win A Paperback copy of Finding Perfect, some bookmarks, and a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

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Review: Doodletopia: Cartoons by Christopher Hart

Title: Doodletopia: Cartoons

Author: Christopher Hart

Format: Paperback

Source: Blogging for Books

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I am a doodler. And I love cartoons.  And while I may be an expert at drawing random things in the margins of my notebooks, to-do lists, and whatever is handy, I am not so great at drawing cartoons or anything that even comes close the pictures in this book. I know my limitations.  But I saw this book and hoped that I’d learn some tips for improving my doodles.

Doodletopia: Cartoons aims to inspire your creativity with activities and tips to improve your doodling and skills at drawing cartoons. With prompts and instructions on how to draw different characters, scenes, and other things, the book is fun and informative.  There is even a section on doodling cartoon letters.  

And what I love is that there are also blank figures, spaces, and forms for you to let your imagination and creativity fly by completing the doodle or adding your own. You can use the tips the author give and create your own raccoon cartoon or draw a high-flying cheerleader.  

There are so many ways to have fun and use this book.  I do wish that the author had used a lighter shade of blue (or even another lighter color) on the fill-in/create-your-own prompts because the blue is hard to cover up with some colors, but other than that I have no complaints and look forward to doodling my heart out.

My Rating: 4 ½ stars

I received a copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for a fair and honest review.

SBPT 2016: Living in a World of Book Quotes

Welcome to another week of the Summer Blog Promo Tour!

Today my guest is Jaclyn from Living in a World of Book Quotes!

Like me, Jaclyn LOVES book quotes and loves to post them on her blog along with her book reviews!

Today she shares a few of her favorites here with you...

1. “If nothing changes, nothing changes. If you keep doing what you're doing, you're going to keep getting what you're getting. You want change, make some.” 

― Courtney C. Stevens, The Lies About Truth

2. “Happiness was getting stuck with someone and never feeling stuck.” 

― Courtney C. Stevens, The Lies About Truth

3. “That's always seemed so ridiculous to me, that people want to be around someone because they're pretty. It's like picking your breakfeast cereals based on color instead of taste.” 

― John Green, Paper Towns

4. “I didn’t need you, you idiot. I picked you. And then you picked me back.” 

― John Green, Paper Towns

5. “At some point, you just pull off the Band-Aid, and it hurts, but then it's over and you're relieved.” 

― John Green, Looking for Alaska

Those were great quotes!

Be sure to check out Jaclyn's site for more quotes, reviews, and more!

I am over there today sharing a few of my favorite quotes from books.  

And be sure to follow her twitter and instagram!

What about you? Do you have any favorite quotes from books?

Blogger Summer Reading Program Week Three!

Only one week left in Bekka and Whitley’s Blogger Summer Reading Challenge…and I was able to meet my weekly goal and finish my two books (and more) during this past third week!

Three Day Summer by Sarvenaz Tash

& 

Song of Summer by Laura Lee Anderson

My reviews will be posted the first week of August when I post my thoughts on all of my Summer Reading books, but I really enjoyed these books. I am grateful for this challenge because I might not have read them yet if not for the challenge.




As for the last week of the challenge, my final reading choices are:

The Big Summer by Jamie B. Laurie
&
Five Summers by Una LaMarche

Wish me luck!  What are you reading this week?

Giveaway: Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler

A few weeks ago I reviewed Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler.
A shipping snafu caused me to end up with an extra copy of the book and I decided to give away the extra copy here on the blog.

Enter the rafflecopter below to win your own copy of Vinegar Girl!

Giveaway ends Wednesday, July 27!

**US Only! (sorry)** 
Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. 
If no response is received, another winner will be chosen.
Blog is not responsible for any lost or damaged packages.
No purchase necessary.

This was a fun retelling of a Shakespeare classic.
Do you have a favorite Shakespeare play or adaptation?

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SBPT 2016: Quality Fangirls

The Summer Blogger Promo Tour continues to roll on and today let's welcome Nicole and Sophia from Quality Fangirls!

About Nicole and Sophia (from their blog):

Nicole and Sophia have been friends since 6th grade (even though Sophia doesn't really remember it). They've had fights and have drifted apart some where in between but now they won't stop talking. Nicole really wouldn't stop talking about books and so she decided they should start a book blog together. They also fangirl a lot about movies, TV shows and sometimes video games (even though Nicole only plays Kingdom Hearts, oh and SIMS!).

I am very pleased to say that Nicole and Sophia have decided to combine two of my favorite fandoms...Harry Potter and Disney...and sort some familiar characters into their Hogwarts Houses!

Happy Sorting!

***

We are here today on Jennifer's blog to sort the characters from one of our favorite Disney movies ever, Lilo and Stitch! Now these are some of our favorite characters and we have thought really hard on which houses they all belong to. Now, this is just OUR opinion, feel free to share your sorting too!

  Gryffindor

Nani

How is Nani not a Gryffindor? Nani has had to battle her way through countless occurrences throughout the movie in order to keep Lilo safe with her, and that takes guts. Being a guardian of a sister is hard enough, but when you have to find a job while people are threatening to take her away? Nani doesn't budge, she tried and she tried. And when Lilo was taken by Gantu, and she was faced with these aliens she never even knew existed, she demanded they get her back. Didn't even flinch. That's a true Gryffindor right there, facing the unknown unflinching.

Stitch

Stitch may be a trickster, but he's totally a Gryffindor. Like the dude's so daring and courageous. Stitch tries his best to do the right thing and fight for the little guy. Remember that time he rescued the frog? Since Stitch is a trickster he can be a little reckless at times like some Gryffindors tend to be, sometimes you know accidentally lighting things on fire or throwing cars at bad guys (no big deal really). I'm pretty sure he jumped out of a moving flying space ship a few times too, if that's not daring I don't know what is. He also will stop at nothing to defend the people he loves, which is 100% shown throughout the whole franchise. Stitch doesn't need the sorting hat to know he's got the lions roar, plus he looks damn good in red (clearly why he picked the red bra).

Hufflepuff

Pleakley

Obviously Pleakley is a Hufflepuff. This part basically writes itself. He's ALLLLL ABOUT following and enforcing the rules (even if he's bad at it). He's super dedicated and hardworking, just look at how badly he wants to save the mosquitos. He's loyal to a fault of course. Always making sure his loved ones are safe and happy. He's always there for the tender moments, when you need a little pep talk. He's everyone's favorite mom, always making sure all the kids get along.

David

Oh David, he's everythinggggg Hufflepuff. He's sweet and kind, loyal, sticks to the rules and keeps thing just. David is always there for Nani, like to a fault (which he continues to do throughout the franchise). He rescued Stitch from drowning and basically didn't even question the fact that aliens were attacking or that Stitch was one. He's funny and so freaking cute. Like David is Bae material. He's so patient with Nani, he loves her for all of the messiness. Like a Hufflepuff David is kind so so kind and hard working. He's like Lilos older dad brother person? He looks out for everyone. Hufflepuff through and through.

Ravenclaw

Lilo

Lilo is the definition of a Ravenclaw. The first few scenes show just how curious she is about the world. She's always watching and observing, and not to mention she's sooooo clever. The things Nani has to put up with because Lilo comes up with these obstacles that prevent Nani from getting into the house? For someone Lilo's age that's pretty impressive. And her curiosity and openness to strange things is what allowed her to pick stitch. She didn't go for the typical dog, but she went for the strange one that talked and went on to explore more things about Stitch (like when he plays music out of his mouth, how did she even think about doing that???). If you want to know something strange, your best bet is to ask Lilo. In a way she reminds me of Luna.

Slytherin

Jumba

Hahah, Jumba is such a Slytherin. Coming up with experiments, trying to create the perfect one. Meaning he's so extremely ambitious, even if it was for destructive purposes. After turning over to the good side, he lost his evilness, but all his slithering traits still remained. He's extremely loyal to the ones he loves (especially his experiments) in the way that Slytherin's are protective over the ones they care about. And let's not forget Jumba's resourcefulness and readiness when it comes to last minute plans, like helping saving Lilo from Gantu. Really, Jumba just turned from a "bad" Slytherin to a "good" Slytherin, but is still a Slytherin non the less.

-Nicole and Sophia from Quality Fangirls

***

Thanks so much Nicole and Sophia!  That was so much fun to read!

I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did.  What do you think...did they sort them into the right Houses?

Be sure to show them some love over at Quality Fangirls!

And follow them on Twitter and Instagram!

And be sure to check out all the stops on the tour...for a complete list click here!

Blogger Summer Reading Program Week Two!

So another week has passed in Bekka and Whitley’s Blogger Summer Reading Challenge…and I was able to meet my weekly goal and finish my two books (as well as a few non-challenge books) this past week!

Yay!!!

The Square Root of Summer by Harriet Reuter Hapgood

&

The Dead of Summer by Heather Balog

I have decided that I am going to do a big wrap-up post(s) at the end of the month where I post my reviews of the “summer” books read during the challenge.  This way I have some time to think about what I just read rather than just rushing to write something that makes no sense (which I am likely to do if I post them right now).  But I WILL review them so be sure to come back to see what I thought (will say I LOVED The Square Root of Summer…definitely recommend it!!!).

As for next week’s Blogger Summer Reading Challenge goal…hoping to get these two read:

Three Day Summer by Sarvenaz Tash

& 

Song of Summer by Laura Lee Anderson

Looking forward to them both…such colorful covers.

So what is everyone else reading this summer?

Any recommendations?

Card Game Review: Punderdome

Title: Punderdome: A Card Game for Pun Lovers

Inspired by: The Punderdome, a live game show created by Jo and Fred Firestone

For: 3 or More Players, Ages 12+

Source: Blogging For Books

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I love and appreciate a good pun (and let’s be honest an occasional bad one).  I frequently make them…both intentionally and unintentionally (much to the dismay of my family and friends).  I also love playing games…my shelves are filled with board games, card games, travel games, computer games…well, you get it.  And Punderdome, a fun new card game, combines two of my favorite things.

Punderdome, inspired by a live game show that father-daughter duo Jo and Fred Firestone established in 2011 according to the info provided in the box, is a game where the best “punster” wins.  Packaged in this colorful little box are prompt cards, mini-note pads, a pun example card, along with the instructions explaining different types of puns.

With relatively easy-to-follow instructions, it seems like a pretty simple game to play as you try to come up with puns based on different prompts. There is a 90 second time limit, which I am not a big fan of (hard to be funny and think under pressure), but I guess you can always change that one (and really any of the rules) to better fit your group.

And while the game is listed for ages 12 and older, younger kids (and pun-lovers) will probably like some of the “punny” jokes printed on the backs of the prompt cards…you could spend a lot of time entertaining them (and yourself) just by reading those (I still haven't read them all 200 of them).

Overall, there appears to be a lot of room for creativity and for just having fun with this game even if you aren’t great at coming up with puns. I anticipate a lot of moaning and groaning over some good and not-so-good puns in the future. But for those who don’t enjoy them, you’ll probably want to steer clear of this card game.

However, to give you an idea of the type of family I come from, I told my dad about this game and his response was “That sounds like a lot of ‘pun!’” followed by “Just ‘pun-derful’!”  Looks like I found a game for our next family game night!

My Rating: 4 1/2 Stars

I received a free copy of this product in exchange for fair and honest review from Blogging for Books.

SBPT 2016: Always Opinionated Girl

So the Summer Blogger Promo Tour 2016 continues...

This week my guest is Emily from Always Opinionated Girl.

About Emily (from her blog):
"I’ve been book blogging for almost two years now and I can’t think of anything I’d rather do in my pyjamas, with a cup of tea, late at night. Books are my way of escaping reality, going on adventures and falling in love, over and over again.
Some of my favourite books from this year so far include The Winner’s Curse series, The Revenge Playbook, Walk the Edge and Rebel of the Sands. I’m always eager to fangirl with other book lovers so don’t be afraid to say hi!
As well as being an avid reader, I love TV shows and films, in particular The Flash, Arrow, Scorpion, Zoo, The Last Ship and Agent Carter.

I am a contributor to the blog The Feministas as which can be found at http://www.thefeministas.wordpress.com"

When getting to know people, I am always curious about their reading preferences so I was really happy that Emily was willing to answer some random bookish questions to help us get to know her and her reading choices better.

Let's see what she had to say...

What is your favorite genre to read?
I'm not quite sure if I have a favourite genre. I think it changes regularly. A couple of years ago I would have said dystopia without a doubt and then I went through a period of loving fantasy. Now, I'm really enjoying contemporary but I still read pretty widely and don't tend to stick to one genre.

Do you have a comfort read or reads?  Books you love to re-read?
I love rereading books that I can read quickly and without much effort. My favourite books to re-read are the Finding Sky series as well as Percy Jackson and Rites of Passage. These are all books I can read in one sitting and are just thoroughly enjoyable every time you pick them up.

You are picking books to go in a time capsule and can only select 3, which 3 do you choose?
I'd have to pick books that teach people in the future something important to make the decision. I'd love to put all my books into the time capsule but since I can only pick three, I'll have to go with Harry Potter, All the Rage, and Am I Normal Yet? I feel like all of these books teach something important as they tackle tough issues like feminism, mental health, sexual assault, friendship, grief and love.

Which character(s) would you want as a best friend and why?
For me, the answer to this one is obvious. 100% Hermione Granger. I relate to her so much and I have ever since I first read Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. She is geeky, bookish but opinionated and stubborn so I think we're quite alike. I'd definitely be able to have so many interesting conversations with her and she's such a kind, loyal friend.

If you could live in any book world, where would you choose and why?
In my mind, the answer to this one is easy, the Wizarding world. I mean, who wouldn't want to go to Hogwarts. I'd love to visit Hogsmeade, taste Bertie Bott's every flavour beans, receive post by owl and find out what my patronus is. There's so much to explore and find out in the Wizarding world that it would definitely be my number one choice.

What books have been your favorite so far this year?
My five star reads so far this year have been The Winner's Crime, The Winner's Kiss, Rebel of the Sands, Walk the Edge, The Revenge Playbook, Eat Sweat Play and How Hard Can Love Be?

What book(s) are you most looking forward to reading?
I'm really looking forward to reading both The Cursed Child and A Torch Against the Night. I'm so interested to see what J.K. Rowling has managed to come up with and whether she meets the high bar set by the Harry Potter series. I read An Ember in the Ashes earlier this year and I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel as I can't wait to find out what is going to happen next and how the characters are going to continue to develop.


Thank you so much to Emily for indulging me and answering my random questions!
I really enjoyed reading her answers and was happy to see that we had quite a bit in common. I mean, who doesn't want to live in the Wizarding World? And Hermione and I would definitely be buddies in real life.
Plus, I just added a few books to my ever-growing TBR list.

Now everyone go show Emily some love over at Always Opinonated Girl!
You can also follow her on Twitter and Goodreads!

And if you want to visit EVERY blog participating in the SBPT, click here for a list!

Blogger Summer Reading Program Week One!

Well, Week One of Bekka and Whitley's Blogger Summer Reading Challenge has come to a close and I am proud to say that I have met my personal goal for the week!  Despite the world (and my body) conspiring against me, I read both a print (Two Summers) and an ebook (Second Chance Summer) with the the word "summer" in the title. I'll be posting my reviews of these two books in the next few days so be sure to check back if you want to know my thoughts!

And of course, crafty me made a Blogger Summer Reading Program Goals card for this challenge...I couldn't help myself.

So glad I was able to check two books off the list, but it was close though...

If you follow me on Twitter, you might know that last weekend, while watching my nephew play baseball, I got a sunburn so bad that my hands were swollen and I couldn't open and close them without pain. It is not easy to hold or read a book when that happens.  To top that off, I ended up with a migraine a couple of days ago and...well, it was just not a great week.

But I met my goal and I can hold a book now, so that's progress! Yay! And get this, I even managed to finish a couple of other books I was reading at the same time.

Now I am looking forward to my next "summer" reads...

The Sqaure Root of Summer by Harriet Reuter Hapgood

and

The Dead of Summer by Heather Balog

Wish me luck!  Maybe this week will be a little less eventful (and less painful)!

Good luck to everyone else on their summer reading!

Reading anything good?  Any recommendations?

Spoiler Alert?

Hard to believe there was a time when the phrase “Spoiler Alert!” didn’t really exist. There was no Internet, Twitter, Facebook, or whatever to post what happened in a book,  movie, TV show, etc.  People didn’t go online to tell you who ended up with who in whatever book was popular at the time. Movies were able to keep their twist endings secret. And people on the West Coast were just as surprised by a character’s death on a TV Show as people on the East Coast.

But now, it seems like it is very hard to avoid hearing or reading spoilers for anything.  I personally don’t mind being spoiled (I sometimes even skip to the end of the book), but don’t worry, I respect those that do. I will try my best not to post anything I think might be a spoiler. I know there are some that don’t like them and will go to extreme lengths to avoid all spoilers for books, movies, and TV shows and I would hate to ruin their enjoyment.

I have even seen people get angry online when books come out when people post about what happens as they read or watch a TV Show.  Or when someone tweets or posts about the ending or characters from an upcoming or newly released book.  I also have seen some people, like myself, who aren’t bothered by reading or hearing spoilers. Then there are others who post or discuss things in public forums without the warning and don’t seem to be bothered by the fact that there are people who don’t want to know about key events, twists, turns, or whatever you define as a spoiler.

But that’s just it…how do you define a spoiler? Do people define it differently? And at what point does a spoiler stop being a spoiler? Or does it?

I get that major events and plot twists are definitely spoilers. Or something not mentioned in the description. But what else would you consider a spoiler?  What might be a spoiler for you, someone else might not even think twice about posting or discussing.

And when does revealing or saying something about a book, movie, or TV show stop being a spoiler…I am especially curious about people’s thoughts on this one.

For books, is there a set time limit?  Or is it always going to be a spoiler? What if an author/publisher puts it in a blurb for a sequel or posts an excerpt? Should they post a warning or just assume if you're reading it, you know what happened earlier? I wouldn't think a warning would be necessary, but I'm sure some might feel differently.

How about movies?  Is it a month after the release?  A year? 10 years?  More?  What if the movie is based on a book? What if people quote famous lines from movies that could be spoilers (um...specifically one from Star Wars films)? Do quotes stop being spoilers once they enter our regular conversations?

And what about TV shows?  In the age of Netflix, OnDemand, and DVRs, when can you safely discuss or post about a TV Show without it being a spoiler? What about older TV shows or seasons?

Is posting a GIF a spoiler? What about a quote?

These are the random thoughts that run through my mind.  Any thoughts?

SBPT 2016: The Reader and the Chef

As I mentioned yesterday, today (and every Sunday this Summer) I'll be spotlighting a different bookish blogger/blog as part of the Summer Blogger Promo Tour!

Up first is Melissa from The Reader and the Chef! 

Photo courtesy of Melissa

Melissa (also known as Melissa de Montigny on Twitter) is a book blogger and reviewer, currently living in Mexico with a degree in Foreign Trade and Customs. Her favorite genres are fantasy, contemporary, and all things Young Adult with a hint of romance (if it has book princes, the better). When she’s not reading, Melissa loves to hang around Twitter professing her love for books, eating sweets, and staring at her collection of books. You can find her at The Reader and the Chef  (her blog), YA Books Central (staff reviewer), and on Kate Tilton, Connecting Authors & Readers.

You can also follow her on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook!

I thought it would be fun to get to know Melissa and her reading habits a little better by giving her a little multiple choice quiz.  So let's see what Melissa had to say...her answers are in blue with her explanations in parentheses.

1) My favorite genre to read is

A. Contemporary

B. Fantasy (because magic +new worlds + possible swoony princes!)

C. Historical

D. None of the Above

E. All of the Above

2) I prefer to read…

A. Ebooks

B. Hardcover Books

C. Paperback Books

D. Audiobooks

E. Doesn’t matter, I just want to read, read, read! (I LOVE my physical books, but then again, I also love my e-readers and how I can read in the darkness)

3) I usually read ____ books a month.

A. 1

B. 2-5 (sometimes more! I'm definitely aiming for more the following months because I have to catch up with my challenge)

C. 5-10

D. 10-15

E. 15+

4) Which do you prefer to read?

A. Standalone books

B. Trilogies

C. Short series (4-5 books)

D. Never-ending series (6+ books)

E. It doesn’t matter, if it is something I want to read, I’ll read it.(My favorite books are trilogies, but I also love so many standalones and series)

5) It’s late at night and you know you need to sleep, but you are at a good part of the story. Do you…

A. Stop reading? The book is not going anywhere.

B. Keep reading?  Who needs sleep? (SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK)

C. Try to go to sleep, but end up getting up and reading anyway?

D. Go online to read spoilers so you can sleep knowing what happens?

E. Skip ahead to see what happens, so you can go to sleep?

6) You are interrupted while reading and can’t find a book mark.  What do you do?

A. Dog-ear the page. 

B. Use whatever is handy…gum wrapper, receipt, banana peel, etc. (I sometimes use tissues, they serve double purpose when reading emotional books!)

C. Close the book, you’ll remember where you were.

D. Write the page number down somewhere.

E. Can’t find a bookmark?  I never go anywhere without a bookmark!

7) A friend wants to borrow your absolute, most favorite book, do you…

A. Refuse? That book is your precious. 

B. Buy her a copy?  After all, you want to share the book love and keep a friend.(I SHALL NEVER LEND BOOKS EVER AGAIN. This way is better)

C. Gladly let her borrow it with no fuss? It’s your favorite and you want everyone to read and it.

D. Let her borrow it, but make her sign away her first born if any harm comes to it?

E. Let her borrow it and hound her every day asking if she’s read it yet?

8) When you read a book, the part that really captures your interest and makes it a good read for you is…

A. Characters (Characters always come first to me, then world-building and plot)

B. Plot

C. Setting

D. Writing

E. It really depends on the book.

9) What makes you pick up a book and say, “Yeah, I want to read that!”?

A. Cover (GIMME THE PRETTIES) 

B. Blurb 

C. Author

D. Reviews

E. All of the Above

10) My favorite part about blogging and the bookish community is…

A. the books 

B. the people

C. sharing my thoughts and creativity with others

D. the authors

E. All of the Above (I love every single aspect of the bookish community ♥)

Well, that was a lot of fun! Thanks Melissa!

Now everyone show Melissa some love here and over at The Reader and the Chef!