September 2015 Reads + Monthly Recap

It's getting colder so, yes, it's October. Ha! That rhymes.

September was cray-cray as expected. It's what I call the birthday month. My dad, my sister, four of my cousins, my second cousin, my aunts (who are twins, by the way), my teacher, three of my close friends -- they were all born on September. How crazy is that?

Also, I ran a 5K last Sunday. I couldn't move a muscle the next day. Do you have any idea when I last ran a 5K? No, of course you don't. It was 4 YEARS AGO. What was I thinking? Well at least now I can say I got to exercise ONCE this year.

Anyway, it wasn't a great reading month for me. I was only able to read 10 books and majority of it were 2-star and 1-star reads :(

   

Review: Velvet Undercover by Teri Brown

Velvet Undercover
by Teri Brown
Publication Date: October 20, 2015




Samantha Donaldson’s family has always done its duty for the British Crown. In the midst of World War I, seventeen-year-old Sam follows in their footsteps, serving her country from the homefront as a Girl Guide and messenger for the intelligence organization MI5. After her father disappears on a diplomatic mission, she continues their studies of languages, high-level mathematics, and complex puzzles and codes, hoping to make him proud.

When Sam is asked to join the famed women’s spy group La Dame Blanche she’s torn—this could be the adventure she’s dreamed of, but how can she abandon her mother, who has already lost a husband to the war? But when her handlers reveal shocking news, Sam realizes there’s no way she can refuse the exciting and dangerous opportunity.

Her acceptance leads her straight into the heart of enemy territory on a mission to extract the most valuable British spy embedded in Germany, known to the members of LDB only as Velvet. Deep undercover within the court of Kaiser Wilhelm II, Samantha must navigate the labyrinthine palace and its many glamorous—and secretive—residents to complete her assignment. To make matters worse she finds herself forming a forbidden attraction to the enemy-a dangerously handsome German guard. In a place where personal politics are treacherously entangled in wartime policy, can Samantha discover the truth and find Velvet before it’s too late…for them both?

From author Teri Brown comes the thrilling story of one girl’s journey into a deadly world of spycraft and betrayal—with unforgettable consequences.

Review: When the Stars Align by Jeanette Grey

When the Stars Align
by Jeanette Grey
Published: September 1, 2015




Their passion burned hotter than the stars . . .

For Josephine "Jo" Kramer, nothing has ever been easy. When she earns a summer internship in Puerto Rico, working at one of the world's preeminent scientific facilities, she'll let nothing distract her. Not her own insecurities, not the arrogant scientists, and definitely not her tall, chiseled research partner, Adam.

For Adam McCay, physics is simple-it's women who are complicated. Especially brilliant, beautiful ones like Jo. From the moment they meet, he can feel the heat smoldering deep beneath her icy exterior. And Adam knows just what it will take to make Jo melt . . .

Under the endless stars of a tropical sky, Jo and Adam indulge their every desire. But as their internship comes to an end, their perfect island paradise is threatened. Was their time together a summer fling? Or is their passion hot enough to last the long winter nights?

September 2015 New Releases: Part 3

New Book Releases this September 2015

*cover image links to Goodreads*

Walk on Earth a Stranger (The Gold Seer Trilogy #1) by Rae Carson Published: September 22, 2015 The Book Depository Amazon ____________ Gold is in my blood, in my breath, even in the flecks in my eyes. Lee Westfall has a strong, loving family. She has a home she loves and a loyal steed. She has a best friend—who might want to be something more. She also has a secret. Leee can sense gold in the world around her. Veins deep in the earth. Small nuggets in a stream. Even gold dust caught underneath a fingernail. She has kept her family safe and able to buy provisions, even through the harshest winters. But what would someone do to control a girl with that kind of power? A person might muder for it. When everything Lee holds dear is ripped away, she flees west to California—where gold has just been discovered. Perhaps this will be the one place a magical girl can be herself. If she survives the journey. The acclaimed Rae Carson begins a sweeping new trilogy set in Gold Rush-era America, about a young woman with a powerful and dangerous gift.

SERIES REVIEW: Superlatives by Jennifer Echols

  

Superlatives

by Jennifer Echols

Published: May 20, 2014

Biggest Flirts

"Tia and Will’s lives get flipped upside down when they’re voted Yearbook’s Biggest Flirts in this sassy novel from the author of Endless Summer and The One That I Want."

September 2015 New Releases: Part 2

New Book Releases this September 2015

*cover image links to Goodreads*

Drift & Dagger by Kendall Kulper Published: September 8, 2015 The Book Depository Amazon ___________ I’ve always been a monster. And monsters destroy things. Things like magic and friendships and futures. Mal used to have a home, a best friend, and a secret. But he lost all three on the day Essie Roe exposed him as a blank. Blanks cannot be cursed or saved or killed by magic. And everyone is afraid of them—even Mal himself. Now Mal travels the world in search of dangerous and illegal magical relics, never stopping in any one place too long. When his partner in crime, Boone, hears of a legendary dagger that can steal magic, Mal knows he finally may have found a way to even the score with Essie. Crossing oceans and continents, Mal and Boone travel from Boston to Paris to Constantinople in search of the dagger. Finding it would mean riches, fame, and revenge—but only if Mal can control the monster inside him. Kendall Kulper weaves a vivid story of betrayal and determination—and the road to forgiveness—in this new adventure set in the world of Salt & Storm.

SERIES REVIEW: Castles Ever After (1, 2, 3) by Tessa Dare

  

Castles Ever After

Romancing the Duke | Say Yes to the Marquess | When a Scot Ties the Knot 

by Tessa Dare
Published: January 28, 2014

In the first in Tessa Dare's captivating Castles Ever After series, a mysterious fortress is the setting for an unlikely love . . .

September 2015 New Releases: Part 1

New Book Releases this September 2015

*cover image links to Goodreads*

Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman Published: September 1, 2015 The Book Depository Amazon ____________ Revenge is worth its weight in gold. When hers father is murdered for a journal revealing the location of a hidden gold mine, eighteen-year-old Kate Thompson disguises herself as a boy and takes to the gritty plains looking for answers—and justice. What she finds are untrustworthy strangers, endless dust and heat, and a surprising band of allies, among them a young Apache girl and a pair of stubborn brothers who refuse to quit riding in her shadow. But as Kate gets closer to the secrets about her family, a startling truth becomes clear: some men will stop at nothing to get their hands on gold, and Kate’s quest for revenge may prove fatal.

Me and My Bookshelf (34): August Book Haul

This is where I feature the books I received, bought, gifted or won that are recently added to my physical shelf, which means no e-books and the like, and recount epic book hauling stories. It is usually posted on Saturdays.

Well, hello. I know it's a bit late but I was waiting for my last August purchase to arrive in the mail before I make this post and now that it's finally here.. book haul time!

So I got 15 books this August...

September TBR

Since I already completed my Goodreads Reading Challenge I figured it's time I attempt making a monthly TBR once again and try my best to follow it. I still haven't given up. I know life will only get busier for me starting this month until summer next year the reason why I am so glad I already reached my reading goal this 2015. So now I basically have a free reign over my reading pace and whatnot.

This September I'm going to include 10 titles in my TBR list but because I am a mood reader - the reason why I can never stick to a list - it's best I start loosely. So out of this 10 books I have to read AT LEAST half of it. And since I'm making a list within a list, preferably half of the books in each list.

Witchy Books

Aside from my Goodreads RC I also joined the 2015 Witches and Witchcraft Reading Challenge and so far I only read 1 book. LOL. But I still have plenty of time left this year to read 5 or more so it's okay.

August 2015 Reads + Monthly Recap

It's past 3AM now on the first day of September. My sister has exams in the morning so she made coffee in order to stay up late and study. She managed to make one sip, declared the coffee ineffective and promptly fell asleep. On the floor. And here I am, wide awake, happily drinking her coffee. She asked me to wake her up in five minutes. As if. This girl is so hard to wake.

Whatever. Let's move on to the recap part. So this August I read 14 books and 1 novella. I was hoping to read 18 - 20 and for a while it seemed possible especially when I was reading 1 book a day on the first week but as I have predicted, it was a very busy month and stuff besides reading and blogging had to be done eventually.

   

August 2015 New Releases: Part 2

New Book Releases this August 2015

*cover image links to Goodreads*

Crossed (Soul Eaters #3) by Eliza Crewe Published: August 17, 2015 Amazon ______________ War is here. Full-scale war has erupted between the Crusaders and demons and even Chi has to admit isn’t going well. Like any sensible rat, Meda’s eager to abandon the sinking ship but, unfortunately, her friends aren't nearly as pragmatic. Instead, Meda’s forced to try to keep them all alive until the dust settles. As the Crusaders take more and more drastic measures, the tables turn and Meda suddenly finds herself in the role of voice of sanity. No one is more horrified than she is. When old enemies reappear as new allies and old friends become new enemies Meda has to decide—again—whose side she’s really on. And then the Crusaders decide that Meda should go to Hell. Literally. Can’t a monster ever catch a break?

COVER TREND: Purple, Pink, Orange

Purple, pink, orange -- that is my most favorite color combination of all, if the pinks and purples of this blog isn't a dead giveaway. I noticed that some of my most awaited books and favorite covers this year are pink-purple-orange so why not give them a pitch because of that ;)

August 2015 New Releases: Part 1

New Book Releases this August 2015

*cover image links to Goodreads*

Daughter of Dusk (Midnight Thief #2) by Livia Blackburne Published: August 4, 2015 The Book Depository Amazon ______________ After learning the truth about her bloodlines, Kyra can’t help but feel like a monster. Though she’s formed a tentative alliance with the Palace, Kyra must keep her identity a secret or risk being hunted like the rest of her Demon Rider kin. Tristam and the imprisoned assassin James are among the few who know about her heritage, but when Tristam reveals a heartbreaking secret of his own, Kyra’s not sure she can trust him. And with James’s fate in the hands of the palace, Kyra fears that he will give her away to save himself. As tensions rise within Forge's Council, and vicious Demon Rider attacks continue in surrounding villages, Kyra knows she must do something to save her city. But she walks a dangerous line between opposing armies: will she be able to use her link to the Demon Riders for good, or will her Makvani blood prove to be deadly? In this spellbinding sequel to Midnight Thief, Kyra and Tristam face their biggest battle yet as they grapple with changing allegiances, shocking deceit, and vengeful opponents.

Book Cover Battle: US vs UK - Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Hello! Well, it's almost 4PM where I am and... I just woke up. I ALMOST had a heart attack. I was expecting it to be 11 or 12! Man. Don't get me wrong. I had a REALLY early start. So I slept around 8PM, woke up at 12 midnight, work (on my computer in my room), slept again around 9 in the morning and bam! Here we are. I live a weird life.

Anyway, today I am going to feature another US vs UK Book Cover Battle and it is going to be.... Uprooted by Naomi Novik.

I've heard so many AMAZING things about this book and I am dying to read it but why haven't I? Well, take a second to look at these covers:

Me and My Bookshelf (33): A Slightly Bigger July Book Haul

This is where I feature the books I received, bought, gifted or won that are recently added to my physical shelf, which means no e-books and the like, and recount epic book hauling stories. It is usually posted on Saturdays.

I got so many books this month I kind of forgot what they were or even where they all are. Since I don’t have any shelf to put them I just put them back in their packaging and stash them anywhere I have space, which meant I had to go hunt for them before I made this post. Fun times.

OKAY. So I have way more books than last month’s haul. Yes, I spent WAY more than my limit but 20 books for less than $45? Oh yeah. I am a bargain shopper. The only book in this haul I bought in its original price is Ruin and Rising. I love buying and collecting books and if I don’t take the chance of buying them when they’re cheap, you’re going to find me begging on the street for more books. I mean... food.

Science Geek Appreciation Week Day 5: The Libby Garrett Intervention SNEAK PEEK

Well, here we are folks. The final day of Science Geek Appreciation Week. And what a week it's been! We've read all about The Avery Shaw Experiment, revealed the cover and got a few teasers from The Libby Garrett Intervention releasing this October, we've gotten up close and personal with Science Squad author Kelly Oram, and we've invaded Avery's and Grayson's privacy by reading their journals.

We've partied on Facebook with games, teasers, bonus material, and giveaways. (The party's still going on, so stop by the FACEBOOK EVENT and enter the giveaways before they're over.)

Science Geek Appreciation Week Day 4: The Avery Diaries

Happy Thursday everyone! Today marks day 4 of Science Geek Appreciation Week. I hope you're having as much fun with it as I am. So far we've been introduced to The Avery Shaw Experiment, we've been teased about the upcoming The Libby Garrett Intervention, and we've gotten to know a little about the author behind all the geeky goodness, Kelly Oram. Today, it's time to get to know the stars of the Spanish Fork High science club a little better with a peek in their personal journals.

Science Geek Appreciation Week Day 3: Getting to Know Kelly Oram

Well we're mid week now--half way through Science Geek Appreciation Week--and it's time to get up close and personal with the author of the Science Squad series, Kelly Oram.

If you missed any of the previous posts about The Avery Shaw Experiment or The Libby Garrett Intervention, be sure to stop by the Facebook event. Along with the posts, there's all kinds of extra bonus material, games and giveaways going on. Lots of chances to win signed books and swag, talk to the author and just have fun with other science geek loving friends. There's a new giveaway every day. CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE PARTY!

COVER REVEAL + Teaser: The Libby Garrett Intervention by Kelly Oram

Welcome to Day 2 of Science Geek Appreciation Week with Author Kelly Oram! If you missed yesterday's post about The Avery Shaw Experiment, you can check it out HERE. And don't forget to stop by the Facebook party for all kinds of extra bonus material, games and giveaways. There's a new giveaway every day. CLICK HERE TO PARTY!

Now... On to the cover reveal for The Libby Garrett Intervention!

The Spanish Fork High Science Squad is back in this hilarious and heartwarming companion novel to The Avery Shaw Experiment.

SPOTLIGHT + Teaser: The Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly Oram

Welcome to Day 1 of Science Geek Appreciation Week with author Kelly Oram -- a fun-filled week of teasers, interviews, games, giveaways, and lots and lost of science! We're going to kick off the week by introducing you to the stars of the Spanish Fork High Science Squad -- Club President Avery Shaw and her newest recruit, Grayson Kennedy -- in their debut novel The Avery Shaw Experiment.

July 2015 Reads + Monthly Recap

July was a blur. I can't even remember all the stuff I spent my time doing. All I know is that I finally got out of my reading slump (yay!) but it wasn't my best blogging month. I haven't even stopped by people's blogs lately but I am going to remedy that in a while. I've been blogging a lot this week though and have 5 posts scheduled for next week! How awesome is that? It's actually a good thing since I need my focus somewhere else in the coming weeks. August is going to be another busy month.

But for now, here are the books I read this July:

    

Midyear Updates

Hello! I haven't been a very active blogger lately but since July is almost over I figured it's time to look back to all my goals this year and check out my progress. I meant to do this at the start of the month but as I've said, blogging slump.

Anyway, I have four major goals this 2015 (not including the one that says, "I have to read more").

1. Catch up on reading - and reviewing - my review copies.
2. Start and/or finish a series.
3. Annihilate my physical TBR.
4. Don't buy more books.

I only joined two reading challenges this year:

 

July 2015 New Releases: Part 2

New Book Releases this July 2015

*cover image links to Goodreads*

Armada by Ernest Cline Published: July 14, 2015 The Book Depository Amazon __________ Zack Lightman has spent his life dreaming. Dreaming that the real world could be a little more like the countless science-fiction books, movies, and videogames he’s spent his life consuming. Dreaming that one day, some fantastic, world-altering event will shatter the monotony of his humdrum existence and whisk him off on some grand space-faring adventure. But hey, there’s nothing wrong with a little escapism, right? After all, Zack tells himself, he knows the difference between fantasy and reality. He knows that here in the real world, aimless teenage gamers with anger issues don’t get chosen to save the universe. And then he sees the flying saucer. Even stranger, the alien ship he’s staring at is straight out of the videogame he plays every night, a hugely popular online flight simulator called Armada—in which gamers just happen to be protecting the earth from alien invaders. No, Zack hasn’t lost his mind. As impossible as it seems, what he’s seeing is all too real. And his skills—as well as those of millions of gamers across the world—are going to be needed to save the earth from what’s about to befall it. It’s Zack’s chance, at last, to play the hero. But even through the terror and exhilaration, he can’t help thinking back to all those science-fiction stories he grew up with, and wondering: Doesn’t something about this scenario seem a little…familiar? At once gleefully embracing and brilliantly subverting science-fiction conventions as only Ernest Cline could, Armada is a rollicking, surprising thriller, a classic coming of age adventure, and an alien invasion tale like nothing you’ve ever read before—one whose every page is infused with the pop-culture savvy that has helped make Ready Player One a phenomenon.

Review: Puddle Jumping by Amber L. Johnson

Puddle Jumping
(Puddle Jumping #1)
by Amber L. Johnson
Published: July 29, 2014



When it comes to love there’s no such thing as conventional.

Everyone thinks Colton Neely is special.

Lilly Evans just thinks he’s fascinating.

Once friends when they were younger, their bond is cut short due to her accident prone nature and they go their separate ways. Years later, they meet again and Lilly learns that there is something special about the boy she once knew, but she has no idea what it all means. And she’s not sure if she’s ready to find out.

When he walks through the corridor of her school the first day of her senior year, she knows that it’s time to get to know the real Colton Neely. The more she learns, the deeper she falls.

Their friendship grows into love, even as Colton does not express it in words. But one decision threatens to break down the world that Lilly has tried so hard to integrate into and she must figure out if the relationship can survive if they are apart.